INCIDENTS of crime like killing, robbery, repression on women and children and burglary are on the rise in Dhaka since the lockdown elapsed and normalisation being restored. Recently, two people were killed and throat-slit body of another man was recovered in a single day in the city. Crime data of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) showed that crimes have marked a sharp rise in June compared to that of the months of April and May and continued in July and August.
According to the data, 19 cases were filed for killing in June, 15 cases for robbery, 49 for rape, 136 for repression on women and children and 137 for burglary and stealing with different police stations. The number of such cases was almost the same in January, February and March when an average 19.6 cases were filed for murder, 17.6 for robbery, 44 for rape, 140 for repression on women and children while 183 were lodged for burglary and stealing. In those two months, on an average 10.5 cases were filed for murder, eight for robbery, 13.5 for rape, 44 for repression on women and children and 58.5 for burglary and stealing.
Police said they have increased patrolling in the crime-prone areas. The lockdown has opened the pandora box of our criminal minds when more than 100 local government representatives were suspended for misappropriating government provided cash support meant for poor and vulnerable, while law enforcers were seen busy in performing extrajudicial killing.
Maintaining law and order is becoming more challenging for the government as thousands of people have become jobless and millions are affected by the pandemic. The government must take livelihood support programme for jobless, expatriate returnees, and the economically affected people that eventually help restore the economy and extend support to small, medium and cottage industries thus they can employ poor and semi-skilled people. If the government effectively can handle corruption and reach the marginal people with social safety net, support and prioritise youth for employment, the crime will be deterred.
