Law and order has worsened in the capital and elsewhere in the past few days with crimes such as killing, extortion and mugging increasing before Eid.
Statistics available with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police show that at least 25 people were killed in the capital in July. The figure in June was 16.At least 15 people were, according to the statistics, kidnapped in July and the figure was 12 in June. The figure was 12 also in July 2012.
Rights activists say that the situation was far from reasonable although law enforcement agencies claimed that the situation was not so worrying and they termed such incidents ‘isolated.’
Dhaka city unit Juba League leader Reazul Haque Khan Milky, 42, was shot dead in front of the Shoppers World at Gulshan in the capital on July 30.
The Rapid Action Battalion arrested six at Uttara, who also included Juba Dal city unit leader Jahidul Islam Tarek, for their suspected involvement in the murder.
In 24 hours, however, the prime suspect Tarek and his associate Shah Alam were killed in ‘crossfire’ with the battalion at Khilkhet on Wednesday night.
About four hours before Milky’s killing, a city unit leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was shot dead by unnamed gunmen at Hazaribagh in the capital around 8:00pm.
The slain Jasim Uddin, also a leather trader, was a leader of the BNP Ward 22 unit. He was close to former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.
In the same evening, two more people were injured with bullets at Mohammadpur and Dhakeshwari in the capital. Md Iqbal, a local contractor, was shot by miscreants as Iqbal refused to shelve out money demand in extortion, the police said quoting the family.
In another incident, Mahmuda Begum, 30, sustained bullet injuries at Mohammadpur she was was walking around.
Local businessman Abu Saleh Shahin, 27, was stabbed to death in front of his house at Jurain in the capital in the evening on July 31.
His brother-in-law Mizanur Rahman alleged that local miscreants had demanded money from Shahin. As he did not give the money, they stabbed him.
The Kadamtali police officer-in-charge, Mazharul Islam, told New Age that Shahin was also a local miscreant. He was stabbed during an altercation with local miscreants. Three were arrested for their suspected involvement in the incident.
A robbery took place at the same time at Wari. Tajul Islam, a local tyre trader, said that a group of five forced into his house and looted money, gold, a laptop and mobile phones worth an estimated Tk 5 lakh.
As they shouted, local people attacked the robbers. Four of them could manage to get away. People captured Saiful Islam and handed him over to the police.
A local mobile recharge outlet owner, Md Ali, 43, was stabbed by robbers at Keraniganj on July 30. They also snatched away Tk 2.5 lakh and four mobiles. He died from his injuries on Thursday morning.
Miscreants shot Kazi Nurun Nabi, a businessman, at his house at Ahmednagar of Paikpara at Mirpur on July 17. Nurun Nabi, said that some miscreants had demanded money from him. As he refused to give the money, the extortionists attacked him. Miscreants chopped two businessmen of Arwayan Traders at Demra on July 18 as they refused to give the money.
Demra police subinspector Khukin Chandra Ray told New Age that during iftar, nine extortionists had entered the shop and asked for money. As the manager and cashier were reluctant to hand in the key, the miscreants stabbed them indiscriminately. As they shouted, local people rushed in and attacked the extortionists. The mob beat them up.
Shop owner Abdul Awwal told New Age that the group was demanding money before Eid.
Transport worker Ujjwal Hossain, 30, was shot dead at Rampura on July 21 as he protested at extortion by Hasan and Mia, known for their criminal activities in the area.
Local people said that Ujjwal had brought out a procession on July 20 against the extortion of the
group led by Hasan and Mia.
On July 8, a local apparel factory owner at Barabagh of Mirpur 2 was shot at by a local miscreant Mahadi for extortion and over the control of waste apparel trade.
According to rights organisation Odhikar, at least nine people were killed in ‘crossfire’ in July. Seven of them are reported to have been killed in ‘crossfire’ of the battalion and two in ‘gunfight’ with the the police.
Odhikar’s general secretary Adilur Rahman Khan told New Age that the overall law and order had deteriorated as the law enforcement agencies were more busy with repression on opposition political parties and views instead of ensuring people’s safety and security.
He said that the culture of impunity that had been in practice was encouraging criminals as they know that they would not need to face trial.
DMP joint commissioner (south) Monirul Islam told New Age that these were isolated incidents. Law enforcers were alerted to the situation.
The battalion’s director (media and legal wing) ATM Habibur Rahman that the crimes such as killing had increased a bit in recent times. But he said that most of such cases had resulted from political rivalry.
‘These are not acts of criminal or mugger’s gangs,’ Habibur said claiming that law and order was satisfactory.
Courtesy of New Age
