Bank robbery and the role of the protectors

The incident of bank robbery on the outskirts of the capital at Ashulia is by all means upsetting enough to send shivers down the spine of all sections of the people. In what appears as an unprecedented event of hacking and killing of eight people including the manager of the Kathgara Bazar branch of the Bangladesh Commerce Bank Ltd on April 21 in broad daylight, the grisly incident points to the dismal state of law and order in the country.
The incident that took eight lives with several others injured in an unthinkable gang attack on the bank, is one that has no parallel in recent times. It is true that hacking and killing on the streets of the capital or elsewhere in the country is not very uncommon these days. The people including the law enforcers were in most cases found mere onlookers as the perpetrators walked away finishing their jobs. But when it comes to a financial institution such as a commercial bank, entrusted with the safe-keeping of people's money equipped with a security system including close circuit television (CCTV), the signal that it sends is not just worrisome. It is much more in that it is a graphic demonstration of the pathetic vulnerability of the citizens and the utter failure of law enforcers to rise up to the situation when it is so badly demanded. More than anything, the incident reflects how criminals consider their ventures in total disregard to any kind of confrontation that may come from those who are supposed to keep vigil on untoward acts.
One just finds it absolutely mysterious to see that while the rampage was on in the bank with bullets and grenades stirring a pandemonium, there was no visible response from any nearby police station. Repeated rescue alarms from a mosque microphone nearby brought in large numbers of people to gather from all directions and chase the robbers while the latter were fleeing with the loot. In their desperate bid, and despite being shot at, the people - mostly commoners with no weapon to deal with -- were able to catch hold of two of the gang members along with a portion of the money looted. But, unfortunate as it was, they were not joined by the members of the law enforcing agency, which could have changed the narrative from what turned out to be a horrifying tragedy.
Surely law enforcers are especially trained to keep vigil for all times they are on duty-- lest they are caught unawares by even an unsuspecting move. If this is not the case, the legitimacy of maintaining a trained force at public expense is questionable. In the incident that made headlines in all national dailies, one cannot avoid reading between the lines the appalling role of the police. The government, one can well guess, will react in its own way. Enquiry committees will be set up to find the masterminds. But what the government should do is ask itself about its utter failure to provide the least of protection to a financial institution dealing with public assets. At the end of the day, the one thing that is at stake is, well, credibility.