PM cautions Home Ministry on law and order
Staff Correspondent
High-ups of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance Government are reportedly anxious as a spate of serious crimes – including killing, robbery, mugging and extortion have increased in the capital and elsewhere across the country soon after it assumed office since January 7.
The Prime Minster took the law and order issue seriously due to different untoward incidents in the capital and its adjoining areas including – at Titumir College, Mohammadpur, Gazipur and Narayanganj – in recent days, according to a competent source.
Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun faced strong criticism from different corners including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who further summoned Shahara Khatun on Monday at her Dhanmondhi Sudha Sadan residence for the second time and directed her to take necessary measures in maintaining law and order across the country.
During about one and half an hour meeting Monday night, the Prime Minster mentioned her election pledges, including restoration of peace and congenial atmosphere in all sphere of life, and gave some advices and directions.
The Premier suggested the Home Minster to collect actual information with the help of different intelligence agencies about the untoward incidents at different parts of the city and neighboring areas, said a source, adding, “Sheikh Hasina also asked to find out the clues of those incidents, whether there was any sabotage of any vested quarter or not.”
Sudden spate of different crimes increased grave concern among the people in the capital as well as across the country as people gave their verdict to the AL-led Mega Alliance hoping for a better situation. The overall situation of the country soon after the landslide victory of the AL is better than that of the BNP-Jamaat government in 2001, said some city dwellers while talking to The Bangladesh Today.
People’s expectations are let-down due to recent incidents of students’ agitations and disruption of vehicle movement at Mohakhali-Gulshan areas following a street accident in front of Titumir College on Saturday, strike of businessmen at Mohamadpur pro-testing extortionists threat for toll, clashes between workers of Fatulla Garment, and local people alongwith police in Narayanganj that left at least 25 injured.
Besides, killings, robbery snatching and dacoity have increased alarmingly after the oath-taking of the new cabinet.
On Tuesday, unidentified killers brutally slaughtered one Waheduzzaman Intu (27) at Agamasi Lane under Kotwali Police Station while one Nargis Akhter (32) was killed at Mirpur-1 under Shah Ali thana. Besides, armed hoodlums snatched money and valuables from one Keramot Ali (25) at Palassey Crossing yesterday leaving him critically injured.
Earlier, on Saturday, a gang of armed hoodlums looted Tk three lakhs from two distributors of the Grameen Phone at Baddha in the capital leaving them injured.
Talking to this correspondent, a police official, preferring anonymity, admitted that the law and order situation in the country has deteriorated in recent days as a section of politicians and corrupt police officials are reportedly harbouring and patronizing criminals. “Besides, some identified criminals – who earlier went into hiding during the regime of Emergency Government, started returning home and regaining their previous position,” he added.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjin Ahmed Sohel Taj told newsmen that his government is committed to ensure law and order across the country.
He said the government has a plan to strengthen the police department in curbing crimes and form a special force to combat criminal offences, terrorism and militancy in the country.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
