The safety of our capital, not to mention the country at large, is degrading day by day.
The number of unfortunate incidents that crowd our newspapers is gradually increasing. Just today, one is met with several news articles that present news involving death and debauchery. Things are degrading so much that even normal passersby are being gunned down in organized hits designed to take down political leaders.
The recent deaths, of course, talk about Zahidul Islam Tipu, a ruling member of the Awami League. Gunned down beside him was one Samia Afrin Prithi, a 22-year-old student. In an ideal world, no one would go through something like this, but it paints a grim picture of the decaying state of Dhaka when even people of the ruling party can be gunned down like this. If these things can happen to them, what does it mean for the rest of us?
We have been on a downward spiral for years now, where even eminent authors have been hacked to death in public places. If people don’t feel safe even taking a stroll in front of their own houses, then where are they safe? What place can offer safety for the people? And if that isn’t possible anymore, then what does it mean for the people living here?
This needs to be stopped. Police and members of other law enforcement forces have to be multiplied and they have to be equipped properly to take on the challenge ahead of them. A lot of these murders are happening because there is not a strong enough justice system to instill fear inside the hearts of culprits.
Bangladesh has been on a path of development for a long time now. But without safety, even the biggest skyscrapers don’t matter.
