Ensure people's safety

After a video went viral on social media showing robbers snatching a young man's bag in broad daylight while holding knives, widespread fear has gripped the general public. According to media reports published on Tuesday (May 27), the incident took place on the afternoon of May 18. The location was Greenway Lane in Moghbazar, Dhaka. The victim of the robbery is a young man named Abdullah, who is from Cumilla. Following the incident, on Sunday night, Abdullah filed a case with Hatirjheel police station against three unidentified individuals. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Hatirjheel police station told the media that efforts are underway to bring the three robbers involved in the case to justice.

A few months ago, when the security situation in Dhaka had become extremely chaotic, ordinary people were afraid to go out on the streets after sunset. Now, they fear going out even during the daytime. Especially women have said they do not leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. Even when they do step out, they live in constant fear, unsure of what might happen. In such a state of the country, many questions arise in the minds of ordinary people. Is there any law and order at all? What are the police doing? Who will ensure the safety of our lives?

These are not isolated incidents. Just last Sunday night, BNP leader Kamrul Ahsan was shot dead publicly in the Gudargat area under Badda police station in the capital. On May 27, another terrible incident was reported. At Mirpur in Dhaka, a businessman was robbed of Tk 22 lakh at gunpoint in broad daylight. A video of this incident, which took place around 10am in Mirpur-10, circulated widely on social media. With the rise of public killings, robberies, and dacoities, citizens have expressed extreme anxiety. Criminals have become reckless all over the country. Public murders, robberies, armed showdowns, and various crimes are taking place openly. People are being held hostage, threatened with guns, shot at, or attacked with sharp weapons to loot all their possessions. This has created a strong sense of insecurity and fear among the public.

The statistics from the Police Headquarters show that across the country, from January to April this year, 1,246 murder cases were filed. In January, there were 294 cases; in February, 300; in March, 316; and in April, 336. This number is steadily increasing. Additionally, during these four months, 1,775 cases were registered for theft, robbery, and dacoity. Among these, 414 cases were in April, 437 in March, 420 in February, and 504 in January.

Crime analysts say the deterioration of law and order since the mass uprising is responsible for this. Moreover, unemployment is rising in the country. With Eid al-Adha approaching, many people fear going out carrying large sums of money. People cannot even enjoy traveling somewhere in peace. Without significant improvement in the country's law and order situation, there is no way out of this crisis. If this continues, it will create an extreme chaotic environment that will damage all sectors, including the economy and society. Therefore, without further delay, the law and order situation of the country must be improved as soon as possible. The safety of people's lives must be ensured. Otherwise, there is no doubt the interim government will face severe criticism.