Crime surge again and businesses
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Last Tuesday's very daring case of robbing of a gold jewellery shop at Mirpur in broad daylight in the working hours comes as a rude shocker -- particularly for businesses. The robbers got away with jewellery valued at some Taka 20 million and a cash worth Taka 0. 4 million. The jewellery shop was the biggest one in the shopping mall at Mirpur-1 area. Its owners have been virtually reduced to penury following the incident. It could be counted as one of those acts of robberies which could not be prevented unfortunately by proactive moves by the law enforcement bodies but for the fact that they had foreknowledge of the likelihood of its happening. The owners of the shop received intimidating telephone calls. The callers demanded Taka 20 million and warned about killing the victims for failure to pay. The same was informed to the police and RAB authorities and entered into the general diary at the local police station. The owners also got assurance from the police and the RAB about their vigilance and other steps to protect them. Thus, the question cannot but help arise : How could the robbers dare stage the robbery or get away so smoothly? The assurance from the law enforcement bodies lacked substance and this is unacceptable.
The gang asked for the extortion money in the name of certain dons of the underworld. The dons were believed to have left Bangladesh after the takeover by the present government and its drive against organised crime. But recent media reports indicated that they had either returned or made their networks active once again. The robbed jewellery shop was not the only one that received calls for extortion money. Similar cases are noted to be on the rise at Mirpur as well as other parts of the city suggesting a revival of extortionist activities. It is, therefore, not irrelevant to ask whether the gangs are sensing any laxity on the part of the law enforcement machinery which is encouraging them to operate with relative confidence like in the past.
It is the cardinal duty of any governmental administration worth the name to provide effective services to safeguard the lives and properties of the people. It is a very basic duty that comes above many other needs and in this area no compromise can be accepted. The incumbent government acquired emergency powers and it was expected that the same would be utilised specially to improve law and order involving the busting of the organised vice rackets. In all fairness, it must be admitted that this objective was seen as notably accomplished last year and lasted until the early part of the present year. But strains in the law and order have been showing up since then with incidents of extortion, robberies, mugging and hijacking rising to a new high. The same calls for an appropriate response. The law enforcers cannot be complacent and live on the memories of their doing a better job last year. They must awaken to the bitter reality of a fresh crime surge and take the hardest steps to stamp it out.
Businesses are demanding special security measures and the same ought to be extended to them at an early date. Shopping malls and other business establishments need to be brought under a round-the-clock vigilance and protection network of the police. It will cause some pressure on other areas of the activities of the police. But the same can be done and should not be unsustainable given the present number and capacities of the police. Businesses may be called upon to share a cost of maintaining such operations and they are likely to respond positively.
The gang asked for the extortion money in the name of certain dons of the underworld. The dons were believed to have left Bangladesh after the takeover by the present government and its drive against organised crime. But recent media reports indicated that they had either returned or made their networks active once again. The robbed jewellery shop was not the only one that received calls for extortion money. Similar cases are noted to be on the rise at Mirpur as well as other parts of the city suggesting a revival of extortionist activities. It is, therefore, not irrelevant to ask whether the gangs are sensing any laxity on the part of the law enforcement machinery which is encouraging them to operate with relative confidence like in the past.
It is the cardinal duty of any governmental administration worth the name to provide effective services to safeguard the lives and properties of the people. It is a very basic duty that comes above many other needs and in this area no compromise can be accepted. The incumbent government acquired emergency powers and it was expected that the same would be utilised specially to improve law and order involving the busting of the organised vice rackets. In all fairness, it must be admitted that this objective was seen as notably accomplished last year and lasted until the early part of the present year. But strains in the law and order have been showing up since then with incidents of extortion, robberies, mugging and hijacking rising to a new high. The same calls for an appropriate response. The law enforcers cannot be complacent and live on the memories of their doing a better job last year. They must awaken to the bitter reality of a fresh crime surge and take the hardest steps to stamp it out.
Businesses are demanding special security measures and the same ought to be extended to them at an early date. Shopping malls and other business establishments need to be brought under a round-the-clock vigilance and protection network of the police. It will cause some pressure on other areas of the activities of the police. But the same can be done and should not be unsustainable given the present number and capacities of the police. Businesses may be called upon to share a cost of maintaining such operations and they are likely to respond positively.