Upswing in crimes
THERE has been an evident downslide in law and order over the last one month or so. At no time during the successive regimes of the past did the crime curve show any tolerable trend but there are periods when it shoots steeply upwards. Murders, robberies, hijackings, extortion and muggings are all on the rise. The capital city is as vulnerable as any other part of the country, if not more so. Theft of car is another crime that is increasing. In some areas muggers rule the lanes and by-lanes after dark.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner has expressed concern at this surge in crimes in the city. According to DMP sources, the number of murders has doubled over a period of one month. In February, 16 persons were murdered in the capital; the number climbed to 34 in March. It is learnt that the police are updating the list of thugs and planning a massive campaign to nab them. However, such campaigns were launched in the past and the consequence was in many instances distressing. The police resorted to mass arrest nabbing any one who happened to cross their path and the victims were required to win their freedom through illegal gratification. We trust this will not be repeated. But even in selective arrests the possibility of harassment remains.
It should be noted that crime control is largely dependent on internal reforms of the police. Police reform has been on the air for quite sometime but how much reform has been implemented and what is the outcome is anybody’s guess. Another key factor is the independence of the police. In the past the police were used for political ends; it is difficult to say whether this is changing at present. Police retraining becomes difficult considering that wholesome recruitment in lower ranks was made on political consideration and a large segment of the recruits are former cadres of different political parties. At any rate, the test of the pudding is in the eating – a decline in crimes will be the measure of any success in police drive. Accountability of policepersons has to be rigidly enforced.
Another concomitant factor of crime and thuggery is drugs. Many hardened criminals are usually drug abusers and in many cases, they engage in crime in order to finance their addiction. Hence, we feel that the fight against drugs needs more vigour and the government should allocate more resources to this.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner has expressed concern at this surge in crimes in the city. According to DMP sources, the number of murders has doubled over a period of one month. In February, 16 persons were murdered in the capital; the number climbed to 34 in March. It is learnt that the police are updating the list of thugs and planning a massive campaign to nab them. However, such campaigns were launched in the past and the consequence was in many instances distressing. The police resorted to mass arrest nabbing any one who happened to cross their path and the victims were required to win their freedom through illegal gratification. We trust this will not be repeated. But even in selective arrests the possibility of harassment remains.
It should be noted that crime control is largely dependent on internal reforms of the police. Police reform has been on the air for quite sometime but how much reform has been implemented and what is the outcome is anybody’s guess. Another key factor is the independence of the police. In the past the police were used for political ends; it is difficult to say whether this is changing at present. Police retraining becomes difficult considering that wholesome recruitment in lower ranks was made on political consideration and a large segment of the recruits are former cadres of different political parties. At any rate, the test of the pudding is in the eating – a decline in crimes will be the measure of any success in police drive. Accountability of policepersons has to be rigidly enforced.
Another concomitant factor of crime and thuggery is drugs. Many hardened criminals are usually drug abusers and in many cases, they engage in crime in order to finance their addiction. Hence, we feel that the fight against drugs needs more vigour and the government should allocate more resources to this.
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