Stop Kidnapping and Extortion

After the mass uprising, people had hoped they might finally be able to live in peace. However, the situation in Bangladesh is akin to a torn blanket—when one side is covered, the other remains exposed. With the ongoing gas crisis and rising commodity prices already creating instability in urban life, the added threats of kidnapping and extortion are only increasing people's anxiety. The abductions for ransom and the open acts of assault for extortion are making people more fearful. Alongside this, the persistent threat of mugging continues. Recently, incidents of businessmen being threatened have also been reported. Police have indicated that professional criminals and top terrorists are involved in various crimes, including kidnapping and extortion.

According to a report published in the media on Tuesday (January 14), last Friday night, a group of 8 to 10 criminals attacked businessman Ehteshamul Haque with machetes in front of the Multiplan Center on Elephant Road in the capital. Authorities have identified a terrorist group, "Emon Group," as being involved in the incident. Multiple sources within the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have revealed that since August 5, crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, muggings, and robberies have seen a rise, with most of those involved being professional criminals. This surge in criminal activity is not confined to the capital; professional criminals are also active in various regions across the country. Discussions about the rise in activities of professional criminals and top terrorists are taking place in high-level meetings within the law enforcement agencies. DMP sources indicate that the activities of top terrorists have increased in areas such as Dhanmondi, Elephant Road, New Market, Nilkhet, Hazaribagh, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Pallabi, Kafrul, Motijheel, Badda, and Mohakhali.

The police have been revealing the names of various terrorist groups and top criminals. They claim that these individuals have been prominent figures in the criminal world for the past two decades. The question arises: why are they not being arrested and brought under the law? Associate Professor Touhidul Haque of the Department of Social Welfare and Research at Dhaka University stated that professional criminals have become active due to the police's inaction. He emphasized that it is now crucial for the police to take proactive measures in combating crime.

Since the mass uprising, law and order has significantly deteriorated, a fact evident in various sectors of society. Particularly, even after five months since the uprising, the police have not yet actively resumed their duties. The reason for this is that, with no political government in place, the police seem uncertain about what steps to take next. To avoid potential risks, they are shirking many of their responsibilities. Furthermore, sources have reported that during the July-August movement, 5,749 police firearms were either stolen or lost across the country. By December, over 4,500 of these weapons were recovered, with 1,898 firearms lost in Dhaka alone. Around 1,500 of these were recovered. Given this situation, the police are facing numerous challenges in carrying out their normal operations. The lack of sufficient equipment and vehicles has hindered patrols and search operations, and there have been reports in the media of muggings and extortions being carried out with the stolen police weapons.

The situation is so dire that, in many areas, people are now afraid to step outside their homes after dusk. In several places, normal public movement has significantly decreased. There is a pervasive sense of fear and anxiety among the public. This fear and anxiety must be alleviated. No matter how powerful the criminals may be, they cannot be allowed to operate freely. The police force must be given the opportunity to work actively and independently. Without the active involvement of law enforcement, these crimes cannot be reduced in society. The current interim government must play a stronger role in this regard. If kidnapping and extortion persist, the government will be questioned, and the law enforcement agencies' inaction will primarily be responsible for the ongoing chaos. The government cannot avoid this responsibility in any way.