| Top officials of law enforcement agencies yesterday blamed Awami League men for deterioration of law and order, identifying extortion and tender manipulation by the party men as main reasons behind it. The top officials identified the reasons behind the deterioration of law and order at an internal meeting of the home ministry with Home Minister Sahara Khatun in the chair. The meeting decided to launch a special drive in the capital within a week to curb increasing criminal activities including killing and mugging. State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, Rab DG Hassan Mahmood, among others, attended the three-hour long meeting at the ministry. During the meeting, the minister and the state minister expressed their dissatisfaction over the continuous deterioration of law and order and asked the officials concerned to point out the reasons behind it. In reply, the officials said most of the cases AL and its front organisation's leaders are directly involved in extortion and tender manipulation through showing 'muscle power' resulting in deterioration of law and order, sources at the meeting said.. The minister and the state minister directed the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against the culprits irrespective of party affiliation for checking criminal activities including extortion and mugging. He said they have also directed the law enforcement agencies to help bring the land grabbers to book for stopping land grabbing. "We have directed them to take actions with an iron hand against the muggers and extortionists to develop law and order situation," Sohel Taj told reporters after the meeting. Talking to The Daily Star he said, "We have finalised the policy of the special drive and now it is the duty of law enforcement agencies to implement it to improve law and order which is our commitment to the people." Referring to BNP's street agitation over party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Dhaka Cantonment house and the utility crises including power and water, Taj said the government would not allow any kind of agitation programme on the streets to protect the life and properties of the people. He urged the main opposition BNP to hold political programmes in specific places.Asked about the killing in 'crossfire', Sohel Taj said, "The AL government will not allow any kind of extra-judicial killing, but the law enforcers have the right of self-defence as per the constitution." |
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