Courtesy New Age 14/3/10 Arif Newaz Farazi
Law and order has deteriorated sharply in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country in past few weeks with crimes like killing, mugging, extortion and burglary on the rise despite stepped-up security measures and police vigilance.
Experts and human rights activists said the situation was far from satisfactory while government and law enforcement officials claimed the situation was not so worrying.
Admitting that law and order had not improved much, home secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told New Age that a change did not come overnight. 'We had to put in much effort in preparing the law enforcement and intelligence agencies and the countrymen have started getting the benefit.'
He said, the democratic government took over power from an interim administration and the entire situation was unstable at that time for various reasons.
'Besides, vested quarters are active to destabilise the situation but we are aware of the plots and prepared to thwart them,' he said.
Soon after the AL-led alliance assumed office, the ruling party men engaged in tender manipulation in different ministries and departments and occupying university halls and college hostels much to the disappointment of the countrymen.
In first six months of its power, lax security measures paved the way for rampant killings, extortion over phone, mugging, robbery and drugs peddling while increasing activities of the outlawed groups in the southwestern region caused worries among the people.
Muggers on motorbike shot and killed a rice trader Afil Uddin Miah, 37, owner of VIP Rice Mills in Babubazar of the capital on January 23 and sped away with about Taka 10 lakh robbed from him in broad daylight.
Armed robbers looted cash and valuables worth about Tk. 4 lakh from the house of an expatriate at Mijimiji Painadi under
Siddhirganj in Narayanganj on February 10.
The robbers held the inmates of the house hostage at gunpoint and looted Tk one lakh, eight tolas of gold ornaments and four mobile phone sets.
Armed muggers snatched away money and gold ornaments from different jewellery shops in Mirpur in broad daylight last week.
Incidents of extortion over phone and by sending letters have also increased in past few weeks. In a few such incidents the gangsters, after being refused payment, shot at the security guards or employees of their targeted persons.
City service transport owners had called an indefinite strike on Wednesday in protest at rampant extortion but called off the strike after being assured by the authorities concerned that steps would be taken to stop extortion.
Former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal, who is also a human rights leader, told New Age that people given the Awami League-led alliance a massive mandate with the hope that it would stand by the people. The prime minister and other ministers also vowed 'zero tolerance' about criminals. 'Perhaps the government is sincere about the matter, but we have not yet seen the desired changes in law and order.'
'In the beginning, the situation was more worrying. But now it seems to be changing and we hope the government will be able to tackle things.'
Inspector general of police Nur Mohammad told New Age that police remained vigilant and the situation was improving thanks to the assistance from the countrymen as well as the government's determination.
Director general of RAB Hassan Mahmud Khandker told New Age, 'We have beefed up security measures, installed additional check-posts, increased patrol and vigilance and achieved successes in action against the militants.'
Regards
Ezajur Rahman (Junel)
Kuwait
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