Criminal activity in Dhaka has fallen considerably as most city dwellers are staying indoors to prevent spread of coronavirus.
Most offices, malls, shops, and educational institutions have remained closed since the government announced a general holiday to prevent spread of the disease.
A senior official of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, and other petty activities fell to its lowest point since independence, reports UNB.
“I think this is the first time since independence that crimes are this low,” said DMP’s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman.
Most city dwellers are following the government’s directive of staying at home. So, there is no one to fall victim on the streets, he said.
Both law enforcement and armed forces are patrolling the streets. So, nobody has much of a chance of fleeing after committing a crime, added DC Rahman.
Deputy Commissioner (Uttara Crime Division) Nabid Kamal Shaibal said: "There’s no victim and so there’s no criminal on the streets. Besides, thanks to a lack of public and private vehicles on the streets, police can rush anywhere within a few minutes. So, criminals are having second thoughts."
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pallabi Police Station Rafiqul Islam said criminal activity has fallen drastically in his area during the last week, thanks largely to the government’s order to stay home during the general holidays.
Usually, 60-70 cases are recorded at the police station ever month. The number of recorded cases in March was 50, of which only two were recorded in last the 10 days, the OC said.
Not a single incident of rape, gang rape, stealing, mugging, or other petty crime has been recorded at Pallabi Police Station since March 26, the police officer said.
The coronavirus epidemic has so far caused 54 infections and six deaths in Bangladesh. The government announced a general holiday to prevent spread of the virus.
