Mamunur Rashid
There has been a spurt in extortion, snatching and many other criminal activities particularly in those wards in Dhaka city which are without any ward commissioner at the moment.
At least 23 ward commissioners, who had fled their areas since the emergency rule about two years ago on charges of corruption, are still hiding.
Taking advantage of their absence, a new breed of toll collectors, musclemen and anti-social elements have established their reign of terror in these wards. These elements are swooping on businessmen and members of the public and collecting toll from them with gay abandon. They are also exploiting many gullible people in various ways.
Some people of these wards complained that the incidence of theft, toll extortion and snatching has risen to a dangerous proportion in those wards. Surprisingly, extortion in the name of absconding ward commissioners is also taking place in some wards, they claimed.
Besides, the standard of civic services has deteriorated in these areas. Drains in these wards nowadays remain choked up with garbage and household wastes as they are not cleansed regularly. Street lights are also missing from many of these wards. In the past, the ward commissioners used to take care about civic amenities of the people in their respective areas.
A garment trader at Hatirpol area adjacent to Eastern Plaza Shopping Complex told the New Nation that close associates of ward commissioner Sirajul Islam, who is now hiding, are realising toll from the businessmen in the name of fugitive ward commissioner.
Hasu, ward commissioner of ward number 43 located on the western part of Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur, has been absconding from his ward for the last two years to evade arrest on corruption charges. Some teenage hooligans
have raised their ugly heads in this ward. They are taking toll from the buyers and sellers of land almost openly. People are quietly paying toll to them to avoid harassment and intimidation, according to locals.
Fifteen other wards are also without any ward commissioner after the killing of equal number of incumbent ward commissioners by their opponents.
The caretaker government appointed official representative in the vacant wards.But they exist in name only and they have virtually no activity.
The Election Commission is yet to take any step to fill up the vacant posts of
ward commissioner by holding fresh election.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
