There has been a gross deterioration of law and order in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur as incidents like killing, mugging, robbery, abduction, post-abduction killing, release of abductees in exchange for ransom and clash between rival groups have risen alarmingly in the last four months.
As soon as evening descends, money and other valuables are snatched from passers-by at different intersections and also at 30-40 spots in forest. Rival groups, out of a desire for vengeance, are kidnapping and even killing each other’s children. Besides, use of drugs and arms has become commonplace.
Police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with such crimes, turning Sreepur into a city of panic for its residents. The role of law enforcement agencies has also drawn harsh criticism in the wake of a rise in unlawful acts.
Locals and police sources say on January 28, 13-year-old schoolgirl Moni’s body was recovered from a pond adjacent to her house six days after she had gone missing.
She was the only daughter of Motlob Hossain, a resident of Beraiderchala village in Sreepur municipal area, and an eighth grader at Abed Ali Girls High School. She was wearing her school uniform when police recovered her body.
Moni’s mother Bilkis Akhter said 21-year-old Nayeem, son of Mojibur Rahman of Shirirchala village in Gazipur Sadar upazila, threatened her over phone on January 24 and told her that the family and also her daughter would face consequences if she went too far about the abduction.
Three bodies were recovered from different areas in Sreepur on April 10. One of them was 11-year-old Sayem whose slaughtered body was found inside a makeshift house erected on an abandoned land near Bormi bus stop. Sayem, son of Rafiqul Islam of Bormi Bazar, was a student of class five at Al Madina Kindergarten.
Just two weeks after police recovered Sayem’s body, his elder brother Rakib, a ninth grader at Bormi High School, was abducted on April 24. Abductors left him alive near his house on the night of May 1. His father received threats over phone but police could not arrest anyone in this connection.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of drugs has become very high in Sreepur. Police recovered 140 bottles of phensidyl from a rice field in Gararan village in early April.
OC Mohsinul Qadir, however, denied deterioration of law and order and said everything was normal.
