The law and order situation in Sylhet city has showed a deteriorating trend in the recent time with a sudden surge in the incidents of abduction, mugging and other sorts of crimes.
According to sources, ten people went missing in the city in the last four months and among them, unknown bodies of four were found while the rest four are yet to be traced out. At the same time valuables are snatched from passers-by at different intersections in the city and it was found that around 100 snatching incidents took place in the city in the last four months and most of the victims received injuries.
Sources said that most of the victims avoid lodging complaints with the police stations in fear of harassment. Law and order meeting is held in the city every month. At the last meeting, speakers claimed improvement of the law and order situation in the city.
Ataur Rahman officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, regarding the present law and order situation in the city, claimed after joining the Kotwali Police Station he managed to curt 60 per cent crimes in the city.
He said the listed criminals who are still absconding, will be held very soon.
Iqbal Haiat, officer-in-charge of Dakshin Surma Police Station, said 80 per cent crimes could be brought under control in the last three months. He said during the time 1500 bottles of Phensidyl were recovered from drug peddlers and they were sent to jail. Police are also working to check motorcycle snatching incidents.
Nure Alam Mina Superintendent of police (SP) in Sylhet, over mobile phone said law and order situation in Sylhet is better than other places.
Advocate Abdul Goni said due to the recent political unrest crime increased in the area. He added criminals could come out from jail as police filed cases with weak allegations against them.
Touhidur Rahaman Tutul, an Awami League leader of the city, said legal loopholes let the criminals loose or get out of jail early so law must be enforced in proper way.
Abul Bashar Tipu, convener of district Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), said ÒSylhet has been upgraded to a division and city corporation but people of the area have not got safety and security till now.
He added incidents of snatching, abduction and murder are happening in the city every day.
But the administration appears to be different to the situation.
