Diplomats complain of crimes in city

Foreign diplomats in Dhaka have expressed their deep concern over the increasing number of criminal activities by which the diplomats, their family members and foreigners are being affected mainly in Gulshan and Baridhara roads.
They have requested Bangladesh authorities to take urgent measures to provide for appropriate security in the areas where those incidents are taking place frequently.
Sources in the police said rampant incidents of mugging are taking place all over the city from evening to midnight and muggers are using private cars and vans in most of the cases.
“It is a social problem which we have to contain through patrol and raid,” said a police official, adding, “As foreigners reside and stay in Gulshan and Baridhara areas, groups are active there to mug them for making quick cash and snatch other valuables.”
Swiss Ambassador Dora Rapold, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the first week of May informing that foreigners and diplomats, especially the women, are being victimised of mugging and other crimes.
“There seems to be a pattern to the incidents that expatriates, particularly females, are made target. The fact of the use of firearms and knives in the incidents is extremely worrying and it has led to serious injuries to the victims in some cases,” said the letter.
It also gave a list of criminal incidents in which diplomats and citizens of different countries were victimised since January 2009. The list also contained criminal reports provided by different embassies.
Citing an example it says, on January 29 a Spanish woman was attacked while in a rickshaw at Road No. 96 in Gulshan-2. A man came out of a car and grabbed her handbag. She fell to the ground and suffered injury that required medical treatment.
In another incident, the letter mentions that a EU-commission member was robbed at Road No. 104 while riding a rickshaw. Miscreants from a white Toyota Townace came out with a big knife and demanded all belongings.
It further says, another EU-commission member was robbed by five men. The miscreants came from a minivan and took away all the valuables from him.
Chief of Protocol of the foreign ministry Brig Gen Abu Sayed Khan later wrote to the joint secretary (political) of home ministry Md Nurun Nabi Talukder to take urgent steps for improving law and order situation in the diplomatic areas.
“Such incidents are damaging the country’s image. Thus, it has been urgent to improve law and order situation in the areas,” he said.
The joint secretary (political) could not be reached for comment as he is now outside the country.
AKM Hafiz Akter, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police for Gulshan zone, claimed that crimes like mugging have come down following their intensified drives and patrols in Gulshan and Baridhara areas.
“We have also received the letter, which was sent to the foreign ministry. We have deployed civil patrol teams after getting the letter. The teams are capturing muggers and seizing vehicles,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.
He said the muggers become active with private vehicles after the evening and swoop on people whenever they get scope. Police seized two private cars in the area on Monday night, he added.
In the wake of rising number of mugging and extortion incidents in the capital, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been making special drives all over the city but it makes little difference as the menace still continues.

Courtesy of The Daily Star