M Sakhawat Hossain, the advisor for home affairs, has issued a stern directive to police officers who have gone on a work stoppage amid the unrest following the recent change in government. He has instructed these officers to return to work by Thursday or face the assumption that they no longer wish to continue their jobs.

Sakhawat, addressing the media at the Secretariat for the first time since taking office, emphasized that he has communicated with key figures in law enforcement, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the metropolitan police commissioner. He urged all police personnel to return to their designated posts by Thursday and resume their duties.

The unrest erupted after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on August 5, following a mass movement. This led to widespread attacks on police stations across the country, resulting in the vandalism and looting of many stations, and the deaths of several police officers. The situation has caused many police personnel to abandon their posts due to safety concerns, leaving large parts of Dhaka and other areas without adequate law enforcement.

In response to the crisis, on August 6, police personnel initiated a work stoppage, demanding an 11-point list of demands, including increased security. This led to a breakdown in the police structure, with Ansar personnel being deployed to manage traffic in the capital.

The newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Md Mainul Islam, urged police personnel to return to their units by Wednesday, leading to the limited resumption of operations at 28 police stations in Dhaka, including Ramna, Shahbagh, New Market, Kalabagan, and Dhanmondi.

During his address, Sakhawat called on the public to refrain from attacking police officers and emphasized the importance of judicial due process for any offenses committed by law enforcement personnel. He also urged people not to generalize blame onto all law enforcers.

Due to the lack of police presence, there has been a significant breakdown in security across the country, particularly in Dhaka, where fears of robbery have grown. Many local residents have resorted to organizing neighborhood watch groups to protect their communities. Sakhawat acknowledged the dire situation, expressing his frustration over the inability to respond effectively to reports of robberies due to the absence of police officers on duty.