Rising Crime Sparks Urgent Calls for Government Action
It is a cause of great concern that Dhaka appears to be transforming into a city of danger and terror day by day.
Recent harrowing incidents, including armed rampages, vandalism, and land-grabbing in the capital’s Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Adabar, and ECB Chattar areas, have spread intense fear and a sense of insecurity among city residents.
It is alleged that under the patronage of influential groups, armed miscreants are carrying out these rampages, either under the cover of darkness or in broad daylight, while moving in gangs and wielding machetes, cleavers, and firearms.
According to media reports, from healthcare institutions and content creators’ studios to the homes of ordinary citizens, nothing is spared from this unchecked encroachment and extortion.
Meanwhile, serious questions have been raid in the public mind how the perpetrators can easily slip away after wrecking such havoc.
Needless to say, if such premeditated criminal activities persist, they will not only disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens but also have long-term adverse effects on overall national security, social order, and the state’s governance.
We believe that, considering the overall situation, the perpetrators must be arrested immediately to overcome this grave state of lawlessness.
Law enforcement agencies must take immediate, stern, impartial, and visible measures to restore the public’s lost sense of security.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, a decision has already been made to withdraw the officer-in-charge of the concerned police station. Furthermore, directives have been issued from the highest levels of government to take stern action against the perpetrators.
However, civil society members and human rights activists maintain that withdrawal of OCs or formal warnings following such incidents do not constitute a permanent solution to this deep-rooted crisis.
Strict enforcement of the law based on a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy must be ensured. Otherwise, this culture of lawlessness will not come to an end.
It must be remembered that criminals repeatedly manage to evade justice by exploiting political patronage, a long-standing culture of impunity, or administrative laxity.
Therefore, regardless of the party or group an offender is affiliated with, strict enforcement of the law must be applied, disregarding their political identity.
Under these circumstances, local police stations must be granted full authority to combat crime independently, free from any political influence.
In addition to intensifying regular night patrols, the coverage of CCTV cameras must be expanded and special police surveillance and intelligence activities stepped up in crime-prone areas.
It must be remembered that ensuring the safety of every citizen’s life and property is a constitutional and fundamental obligation of the state. It is expected that the government will take visible, impartial, and firm measures to fulfill this responsibility.
