Two armed youths in their attempt to kidnap a girl have shot and killed her parents at Gulshan in the capital. The news that was published in various newspapers on Thursday shocked the nation.  ASK expresses deep concern over this killing along with many other recent incidents that show the deterioration of law and order situation of the country.

The recent violence in the educational institutions along with other incidents of murder, rape and abuse in many parts of the country, indicate that the law and order situation of the country is in fragile condition. On 21st March, a girl was dragged away from her home in Khilgaon and gang raped.  No one from the slum she lived in came to rescue her when she and her sister cried for help. The police has not been able to arrest any of the culprits as yet. The very same day a college teacher was shot dead in broad daylight.

We have noticed that, despite all these tragic incidents and the worsening law and order situation, the Home Minister stands in the parliament and claims that the law and order situation of the country is much better compared to any time in the past. She brushed off the death of the meritorious student in Dhaka University violence saying – it was an isolated incident, it may happen any time. Such responses echo the opinion of any past Home Minister and are detached from the reality faced by the common people. The Home Minister’s comments at such times of peril sound almost like a mockery to the aggrieved people. More interestingly, the list of top criminals recently revealed by the Home Ministry includes names of dead people. These issues clearly put a question mark to the Government’s statement of improving the law and order situation.

We urge the government to refrain from making irrelevant comments and to take concentrated efforts in improving the law and order situation.  Political willingness and commitment is necessary from the Government’s part to capture criminals and bring them to justice through proper legal process.