Staff Correspondent
A crackdown on hardened criminals by the members of different law enforcing agencies including Police and RAB is in the offing to combat the wave of crime that has swept the country in the wake of the withdrawal of the state of emergency.
“The government is determined to combat crime and criminals in order to ensure law and order situation. As per the list of criminals prepared by the concerned departments, a massive crackdown on hardened criminals will be launched anytime,” State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj told journalists at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka after visiting Maj Sajjad who received serious bullet injuries during a shootout between RAB and criminals at Shasta at Abdullahpur in Keraniganj yesterday morning.
Quader alias Boro Shahin, 37, an accused in 21 cases, including
murder and extortion, sensing the presence of RAB men, started firing on the law enforcers indiscriminately in a bid to flee the scene. The members of RAB also returned the fire. Later heavy gunfire was exchanged between the RAB and criminals. During the shootout Boro Shahin was killed and five others, including Maj Sajjad were injured.
The State Minister for Home said the law enforcers have been asked to smash the hands of extortionists, nab the hardened criminals and recover illegal fire arms. “Although law enforcers are continuing anti-crime drive throughout the country but we have decided to launch a massive crackdown on criminals anytime,” Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj said.
Talking to The Bangladesh Today, RAB Director General Hassan Mahmud Khandaker said as part of our routine work, RAB and other law enforcers have been conducting drive across the country to nab criminals and recover firearms. “Sometimes the crime rate increases requiring massive drive by us,” he added.
Replying to a query about recent report published in newspapers that extortionists were retuning to their respective localities and are collecting tolls, the RAB DG said the law enforcers are knowledgeable about the matter.
Meanwhile, the authority concerned has prepared lists of illegal firearms holders, most wanted notorious persons and illegal drug traffickers. Besides, the list of the leaders of different political parties who are allegedly patronising the criminals and terrorists in their own interest has also been prepared.
“To create congenial atmosphere and maintain law and order in order to hold the upazila elections in a peaceful manner all out measures have been taken by the Home Ministry. The forces have been kept on alert for possible movement to different parts of the country. Intelligence agency personnel have already reached different places of the country to identify points of deployment,” a source in the Home Ministry said
Political violence and social crimes recorded a surge soon after December 29 national parliament election result and the trend continued till date. As a result incidents of crimes specially robbery, extortion, abduction and murder recorded an alarming rise in recent days causing widespread agony among the people.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
