Reports of various criminal activities, especially killing and mugging, seem to be plaguing the capital city that came in both print and electronic media. According to the Metropolitan Police, 34 people have been killed in the capital during the first quarter of this year. 26 mugging cases were recorded in January and February this year, the DMP data also showed. At least 145 mugging incidents were reported last year and 176 in 2020.
Experts on criminology say the mounting financial instability, social disorder, lapse in vigilance by the authorities concerned may have triggered this sudden rise in crime. The crime rate, according to law enforcers, was low in 2021 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but crimes are on the rise with relaxed restrictions. There are various reports of escalating criminal activities that are causing serious concern among the members of society. The targeted killing of Awami League leader Jahidul Islam Tipu on a busy city street by a gang of criminals last month has generated fear amongst political arena and city residents. A 22-year-old college student, Samia Afran Prity, was the victim of the indiscriminate shooting.
Recently Dhaka residents witnessed another cruel crime in which a woman was hacked to death in front of her children at her home by AC repairers, who took away her valuables from the house, according to police. Earlier in mid-March, a senior reporter, Kamal Hossain Talukder, got injured while muggers attempted to rob him at Bangabandhu Avenue in Gulistan. Even policemen were not spared from such incidents. On March 23, five policemen were stabbed by a mugger on Bangshal Police Station premises during a police search. Also a Dhaka University student was stabbed in the first week of March when he attempted to catch muggers who snatched a mobile phone from another student from the university bus near City College.
In this situation, the DMP Commissioner has directed the law enforcers to provide security while transporting large sums of money like RMG workers’ salaries and allowances ahead of the Eid.
In any society, when there is no balanced distribution of wealth and inequality in income becomes more and more prominent, crime will continue to take place. We want the government must undertake necessary actions to control the rising trend of criminal activities in the interest of the society.
