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Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Sazzat Ali has acknowledged that robberies have gone up in the capital recently and has urged city residents to take personal responsibility to keep their bags and mobile phones safe in order to “assist” law enforcers.
He said police were taking “extensive measures” to prevent robberies.
“We will help you on this matter,” he said. “But try to keep your bags, money bags, purses, and phones safe yourself. By doing so, you can assist us.”
The DMP chief made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest of the annual general meeting of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association at the Dhaka Club on Wednesday, bdnews24.com reports.
Sazzat said, "The crime that has recently raised public concern is robbery. Many of the young drug addicts are involved in robberies. Boys of ages 15 to 22 are getting involved in this type of crime due to their drug addiction."
Stating that 80 per cent of robberies involve snatching mobile phones, he said: "They snatch mobile phones when someone is talking on the bus or in their car. It is very difficult to catch them red-handed. My officers carry large weapons and wear boots and uniforms. The robbers are barefoot or wear sneakers. It is very difficult to chase them."
"So, first of all, I would like to request the people of Dhaka, those who use mobile phones and the women who carry purses or handbags – try to keep them safe by yourself."
"We have taken extensive measures in the last week regarding robberies. The number of day and nighttime patrols has been increased. We have also involved the DB in this work. According to our information, robberies have decreased in the last week compared to the previous one. I hope we will be able to bring robberies further under control."
The DMP started conducting a “special operation” across the capital from December 22 to prevent robberies.
The next day, DMP Additional Commissioner SN Md Nazrul Islam said that 93 robbers had been arrested in the first 24 hours of the operation and that the special operation would continue until the spike in robberies eased.
Pointing out that 20 to 25 million people live in Dhaka, the DMP commissioner said: "There are high numbers of extremely poor, lower class and middle-class people here. The number of people unemployed is increasing day by day. Various social problems are somehow falling on the shoulders of the police. Recently, people from different groups and communities have taken to the streets to get their petty demands met."
"Everyone thinks that if they occupy the roads, their demands will be quickly met or the problem will be solved. As a result, Dhaka's delicate traffic ecosystem becomes even more fragile. People are stuck on the road for hours."
Highlighting the three major thoroughfares that run from north to south Dhaka - namely Mirpur Road, Airport Road and Rampura Road - he said, "If one road is blocked, the entire city comes to a standstill. We are constantly facing this problem. So, instead choose an open field, auditorium, meeting place. Call the appropriate authorities there and try to solve the problem through discussions. This is my humble request so that you do not make the traffic ecosystem faced by Dhaka residents even more flimsy."
The DMP chief said that he also wants to change the behaviour that the capital’s police force has engaged in over the past 15 years.
“But this requires time. All my officers, in particular, need new training. Without training, it is not possible to suddenly change the behaviour of 40,000 personnel."
"We have already started the training. We are looking at where and how much manpower is needed. You will soon notice that change."