Slide in law and order situation

Crime incidents have gone up in recent weeks. Let alone petty crimes, serious ones such as murder, bloody factional clash, rape and robbery have been a cause for serious concern. The law enforcers might not be willing to accept such an account of the country’s law and order. But the common people who find themselves in the receiving end know that the law and order situation is deteriorating fast. Murders over troubles within families and land disputes in recent periods are now relatively higher in number than before. What is particularly troubling is the rising propensity among a section of people to assault young women sexually. The Pahela Baishak incident near Shahbagh and the rape of an indigenous young woman on Progoti Sarani in the capital city are the very recent examples of such atrocious acts.  

One might note with greater worry the prevalence of a sort of restive situation in society. This particular factor could be a food for thought on the part of social scientists and the men responsible for maintenance of peace and order in society. Social uneasiness may escape notice if someone takes the rising tide of criminal activities as a normal development. But if serious crimes are committed very frequently and, in some cases with impunity, society reacts negatively to those. And it does also affect the economic activities. A peaceful law and order situation is sine qua non for the economic activities to go on smoothly. If businesses remain worried about their safety and security, it is hard for them to carry on with their normal operations as well as investment activities.

Last Sunday some miscreants, as the media reported, snatched away more than Tk3.3 million in broad daylight from two employees of a private firm at gunpoint. One of the employees received bullet wounds during the incident. This was not an isolated incident. Identical crimes involving the mobile banking agents have been taking place frequently. The rise in crimes is considered a disturbing development, particularly when the presence of law enforcers on the streets for the past few months has been more conspicuous than any time in the past. It could be that the law enforcers have become too tired countering the violent political programmes during the first quarter of the current calendar year.   

But the law-enforcing personnel can hardly afford to loosen their grip on the law and order for any major deterioration of the same does not only hurt social peace and tranquillity but also leave a negative impact on the economy. The situation is yet to go out of hand but it might become really difficult if necessary corrective measures are not taken immediately. Though not up to the requirement, the number of police personnel has gone up in recent years and their logistic situation has improved. They are also technologically better- equipped now than before. So, everybody expects them to do better now. If they did not rise up to people’s expectation, they would surely have failed in their duty.