Law enforcers are occupied with the activities of political parties and are paying less attention to other crimes. This has created an opportunity for criminals to engage in crimes like murder, robbery, snatching and mugging.
Even the most secure areas like the MPs’ hostels opposite the parliament have been robbed. Specialists are concerned that if such activities continue than the city dwellers would face security problems and the investigation of ongoing criminal cases will lose their credibility.
Contacted, Dr S Ahsan Habib, a professor of sociology department in Dhaka University and a criminal specialist, told the Dhaka Tribune that such problems have happened under every government. If the government cannot take necessary steps it would create a serious problem, he added.
Quoting a Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) report, the professor said usually only 18.4% of police work hours are spent after criminal investigation, while 40.6% are used to cover political rallies and programmes and 32.7% for VIP security.
Inspector general of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker said the statistic was wrong and police did their activities keeping all aspects in their schedule.
“There is no need to become anxious about this. Police’s main duty is to ensure the security of citizens,” he assured.
On the other hand, a statistics of police intelligence says around 700 different terms-based convicted criminals got bail from jail in the last six months.
Police intelligence is preparing a list of such criminals. Most of them are not attending court for their scheduled hearings and most have changed their addresses and houses.
A source from the law enforcement said with the national polls closing in, the movement of criminals has increased. Local criminals are setting up their dens again and getting in touch with their favourite political leaders to set up the plan for upcoming polls.
Intelligence officials are investigating at the field level to find out how these criminals are getting bail from court and to identify the political leaders behind them.
In this list, the intelligence officials have so far identified several lawyers. They also said criminals were getting bail due to poor forwarding report from investigating officials.
Shamsul Haque Tuku, the state minister for home and affairs, told the Dhaka Tribune that law enforcers were alert to check for any kind of criminal activities ahead of the national polls.
“We have some information that some noted criminals got bail from jail but there is nothing to worry about as instructions have been given to make a list of such criminals and arrest them again,” he said.
Asked about involvement of ruling party leaders, he said that instruction had been given to law enforcers to take action against any such leader who tried to create any irregularities.
A source at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court told the Dhaka Tribune notorious criminal Pichhi Helal was on his way to get bail and he could be released any day. A high profile political leader is allegedly involved in the case but the source would not disclose the name of the leader.
Besides, “drug queen” Morjina Begum, Dilbahar, Ramjan Ali, Chemin, Bilkish, Honufa, Fensi Shammi, Faruk, Mamun, Kanti Ray, Dalim, Akter Mia, Ramjan, Javed, Jombu Selim, Taz Uddin, Sobahan, Mukul, Muktar, Rasel, Boma Rahim, Afzal and many others were in the pipeline to get bail from jail. They would get bail soon, the source said.
A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said the police spent most of its time looking out for Jamaat-Shibir’s terrorist activities. They had to take special security measurements to foil their violence, the officer said.
The officer further said the home ministry had issued an order to remain alert across the country and install check posts and the police were working on it.
Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, director of the intelligence wing of Rapid Action Battalion, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are on alert to ensure the safety of citizens, but we need their cooperation as well. They also need to be responsible and inform us if they spot any unusual activities.”
