Highway in Sirajganj plagued by robbery, snatching, drug trafficking

Selim Reza, Sirajganj :

Concern grows among the drivers and commuters as the Sirajganj portion of Dhaka-Bogura highway especially from western side of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge to Chandaikona has turned into a crime zone due to lax-vigilance of the concerned law enforcers including highway police.

Transports drivers, helpers and even commuters are facing insecurity, while traveling through the highway, many of them said.

As some sensational incidents occurred recent times have spread out panic among them, similarly question has raised over the role of concerned law enforcers especially highway police.

A furious dacoity incident that occurred late at night on October 3 after stopping a private car on the western side of Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge near Jhaoil over-bridge got viral through social media facebook.

Five people, including a woman, were injured in the incident. A group of 14 to 15 dacoits equipped with country-made weapons vandalized the private car, attacked the passengers and looted valuable goods at that ime.

On November 21, a truck loaded with 75 drum of palm oil worth about Tk 23.21 lakh owned by one Sadequl Islam of Chapainawabganj was snatched by a gang of highway robbers from the western side of the Jamuna Bridge.

The robber gang took control of the steering and tried to take the truck to a secrete place. But, sensing the matter, a team of petrol police under Raiganj police station chased the truck to catch it.

Finding no way, the robbers managed to flee after leaving the truck near Somobay filling station at Hatikumrul area.

Later, police recovered the truck from the clutch of robbers, but the oil of the truck went disappeared on the blessing of some unscrupulous police personnel of that thana. In the seizure list, the truck was added, but oil was hidden.

According to truck owner Sadequl Islam, the police sold palm oil on the black market and submitted a seizure list to the court adding the name of truck. But, no information of oil was given there.

Truck owner Sadequl alleged that, the then Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Raiganj thana KM Masud Rana and Sub-Inspector Firoj in collaboration with each other sold the oil elsewhere without consent of its owner.

Finding no way, the truck owner Sadequl also filed a case with the respective court in this connection accusing the police officials.

When the incident came to focus through several media outlets, widespread criticism grows over the role of concerned police.

Elite people raise question that, if the protectors (police) are turned to eaters, where people will get safety and fair justice?

Not only robbery or dacoity, transportation of drugs through the highway has become a regular phenomenon due to lack of adequate surveillance of the local and highway thana police.

Although, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-12 and the police rarely recover drugs, especially marijuana, yaba, and phensedyl, the amount of these recoveries is not satisfactory compared to the proportion of drug transportation, locals said.

On the other hand, there are several allegations that, most of the recovered drugs and illegal goods are almost sold in the black-market instead of adding in the seizure list.

Some unscrupulous police officials and their so-called sources are also involved with these malpractices, they added.

Lastly on Saturday, Sirajganj Sadar thana police in a drive on the highway near Kodda intersection recovered 43 kg of hemp from a pick- up van.

The worth of the seized hemp is estimated at Tk 17 lakh, police revealed this in a recent press conference.

However, RAB’s recovery work on the highway is relatively more than that of the police.

Julhaz Hossain, a truck driver said, “The highway has turned into a safe transit route for the drug smugglers due to lack of necessary surveillance of the law enforcers.

Besides, Sirajganj portion of the highway has become a safe zone for criminals like robbers, snatchers and kidnappers.

This is why, we always face insecurity, while crossing the area at night, because of the highway turns to dangerous at night.”