SM Mizanur Rahman :
Local administrations have been struggling to contain violence as they don’t have sufficient forces to deal with the terrors involved in launching petrol bomb attacks on passenger and goods-laden vehicles since January 5.
Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of different districts have requested the Home Ministry to deploy members of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) alongside the police to ensure security to their respective areas, especially roads and highways. Following the request, some 285 platoons of BGB have been deployed in different districts, official sources said.
Apart from police, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and BGB are patrolling the roads and highways but it is not possible for them to stay permanently at a place, a deputy commissioner of Khulna division preferring not to be named told The New Nation yesterday.
“When the law enforcers disappear from the solitary place in the dead of the night, the terrorists take the chance and launch attack on the running buses and goods-laden truck,” he said.
“We are trying our level best to contain law and order to provide security to people’s lives and properties amid blockade and hartal,” Ruhul Amin, Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar district told The New Nation.
Talking to this reporter, Deputy Commissioners Mohammad Shafiqur Reza of Bogra district, AKM Tipu Sultan of Laxmipur, A Gaffar Khan of Narail, SK Rafiqul Islam of Sunamganj, MD Selim Reza of Bhola and SM Zafarullah of Madaripur almost echoed the same saying all out measures have been taken in their respective districts to maintain law and order.
They said the local administrations are committed to provide security to the people and their properties as the country is now passing through a critical juncture.
However, they kept mum about the deterioration of law and order, terming the deadly petrol bomb and arson attacks as stray incidents.
When asked whether the lawmakers are staying in their respective constituencies, the DCs said most of lawmakers are now in capital Dhaka to attend the ongoing parliament session.
Most of the deadly petrol bomb attacks on passenger bus and goods-laden truck are taking place in the country’s remote area. The pro-blockade and hartal supporters taking position in the solitary places adjacent to the highway are engaged in hurling petrol bomb attacks.
Meanwhile, despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin’s directive, many of the ruling Awami League (AL) lawmakers are now staying in the capital to attend the ongoing parliament session.
Talking to The New Nation Mirza Azam, AL lawmaker from Jamalpur constituency- 3 said he is now staying capital Dhaka.
“Now I’m in Dhaka. But as a lawmaker I always visit my constituency. I shall leave capital for my constituency on February 10,” he said.
However, some AL lawmakers claimed that as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive, most of the AL lawmakers are now staying their respective constituencies to drum up public support against the ongoing blockade and hartals being carried out by the BNP-led 20party alliance.
The lawmakers formed all-party committees in their respective constituencies and cooperating with the local administration to ensure security to the people as well as the SSC examinees, they added.
They along with local leaders and workers are also holding meetings with people from all walks of life and remaining active on the vulnerable spots on the highways and important places round the clock.
“I’m staying at my constituency as per the directive of the Prime Minister. Our local leaders and workers are remaining vigil round the clock to cooperate with local administration. We have formed all-party committee,” Abdul Matin Khashru, an AL lawmaker from Comilla constituency- 5, told The New Nation on Saturday.
Replying to a query, he said besides the AL leaders and workers, local people are patrolling the highways and important places to resist the terrors.
When contacted Golam Mostafa, another AL lawmaker from Nilphamari Constituency-3, said he has formed an all-party committee to give support to the local administration in a bid to foil what he termed ‘BNP-Jamaat’ mayhem.
“We are doing our level best to extend our all out cooperation to the local administration to provide security to the people as well as passenger and goods-laden transports,” he said.
