Ensuring public safety is the urgent need of the hour
There is no denying the fact that there has been an alarming increase of robberies, snatching and murder in recent months with the deterioration of the law and order across the country.
Media reports, analyzing the statistics of the police headquarters, say there were 71 robbery incidents in the entire country in last January.
In the same period of the previous year, the number of robberies was 29. That is, robberies have been increased more than twice.
According to a report published in this newspaper on Sunday, robbers stole goods worth Tk 5 crore from a closed sweater factory in Ashulia, Savar between 8:00pm on Friday and 4:00 am on Saturday.
Besides, the Chauddagram section of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway has seen four robberies in the last two months, in which the victim’s cash and gold ornaments and even trucks full of rice were looted.
Prior to this, there has been a nationwide uproar over the incident of robbery and molestation in a bus going from Dhaka to Rajshahi.
On Friday, trucks, microbuses and auto-rickshaws were robbed after trees were thrown on the road in the middle of the night at Santhia in Pabna.
Allegedly, the transport drivers on the road are not getting the desired remedy despite holding human chain and protest rally demanding safety.
This situation has not only increased the concern among the citizens about the safety of life and property, but has also given rise to various fears especially among the businessmen.
Incidents like these robberies will greatly damage the country’s image abroad, which will have a negative impact on investment and employment, needless to say.
This is true; the incident of robberies on highways and crimes other places is not new. But in recent times the problem has appeared as a kind of severe panic for all concerned.
It is a sad fact that even after seven months have passed since the interim government assumed responsibility, the main forces engaged in maintaining law and order in the country are not able to fulfill their duties.
However, police say they are now working tirelessly to maintain law and order.
Those involved in crimes are being identified and brought to justice. All these activities will continue to establish peace in public life — this is our hope.