Staff Correspondent

Two Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers on Wednesday raised concerns over the “deteriorating” law-and-order situation, including what they described as rising incidents of mugging, theft, robbery and extortion, and called for coordinated drives by law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.

Speaking under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure on matters of urgent public importance, Jamaat MP Salah Uddin and reserved women’s seat MP Subikunnahar

highlighted what they described as a growing sense of fear and insecurity among people in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

Salah Uddin said people are increasingly concerned over the “deterioration” of law and order in different areas.

Referring to several recent incidents, he said, “A female teacher was killed in an attack by muggers in front of the Parliament complex, a JCD leader allegedly snatched gold ornaments at the airport, Tk 39 lakh was snatched in broad daylight in Dhanmondi, and mugging took place in broad daylight at Mugda Hospital. A person was also stabbed to death in Jatrabari.”

The MP said theft and robbery have also increased in rural areas, with frequent power outages creating opportunities for vehicle theft, burglary and other crimes.

He alleged that in some cases, instead of arresting criminals, families of victims are being subjected to harassment.

The lawmaker also alleged that drug dealers and armed criminals are moving around openly in different areas. “People are living in extreme fear because of the inactivity, indifference and inability of the police,” he said.

He called for coordinated operations involving the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to protect people’s lives and property.

Salah Uddin also urged the government to conduct special drives if necessary, saying initiatives similar to “Operation Clean Heart” could be considered to ensure security for people.

Meanwhile, Subikunnahar raised concerns over the occupation of footpaths and alleged extortion in Dhaka and other cities.

She said footpaths intended for pedestrians have been occupied in many areas by shops, street vendors and permanent commercial structures, forcing people to walk on roads and exposing them to the risk of accidents.

The female MP alleged that organised extortion has developed around the allocation of space for shops on footpaths. “It is now an open secret that an institutionalised extortion racket has developed around setting up shops on footpaths,” she said.

According to the lawmaker, money is collected on a daily, weekly or monthly basis in different areas in exchange for allowing businesses to operate on footpaths.

Citing a media report, she claimed that traders are sometimes being asked to pay Tk 20,000 to set up a tea stall and up to Tk 30,000 for other types of shops.

“Extortion has today become like a communicable disease of the ruling party,” Subikunnahar said, urging the Ministry of Home Affairs to identify those involved in extortion and bring them to justice.