Bangladesh News

The levels of crime witness an upward trend in a part of Savar industrial belt despite the state of emergency, creating feelings of insecurity in the area.

Robbers broke into several industries and made attempts on several others in Kalma in Savar since January, the latest on February 6, although the area is adjacent to highly secured Savar Cantonment.

Over 50 industries are operational in Kalma and surrounding areas including Khejurbagan, Birulia and Khagan. If security matters are not immediately attended to, the industrialists fear they would also become victims.

Locals observe a sharp difference between the recent break-ins and previous petty crimes, which involved stealing power cable or electronic parts from lampposts outside the industries.

Industry owners and the locals blame it on failure of law enforcement agencies, who did not trap some influential persons. Locally known as “godfathers”, these people include several ward commissioners, Union Parishad chairmen and some political leaders who harbour criminals.

A number of these men were detained earlier, but almost all of them are out by now. With their arrests in the beginning of the joint forces’ drive, crimes including drug peddling marked a significant decrease, the locals add. But the situation has returned to its previous state, which incidentally coincides with their release.

Law enforcers failed to grill even a number of “marked” criminals, say the industrialists asking not to be mentioned fearing retaliation.

They say these criminals extort hefty amount from them to ‘ensure’ uninterrupted production in a problem free environment. A bleak future awaits the expansion of garment business in and around Kalma if this situation persists, they observe.

They further blame the law enforcement agencies for not taking initiatives to check crime despite being repeatedly informed.

The recent burglary occurred at the machine room of Garden Fresh Preservation (GFP), a cold storage in Kalma, on February 6. Robbers made off with a number of parts worth Tk 20,000 after unscrewing those from a transmitter. The GFP filed a case with Savar Police Station on February 8.

Earlier on January 8, a gang of around 10 made an attempt on a factory near GFP past midnight. The gang arrived in a bus and surrounded the factory taking position at several strategic points. The authorities filed a general diary with Savar police.

Sources and eyewitnesses say in both cases criminals came on a bus and took strategic position splitting into groups. They are organised gangs and getting more and more strategic overnight, they observe.

The robbers were equipped with firearms, sharp weapons and sticks. But their attempt failed as neighbours, mostly workers and labourers, arrived on the scene. The authorities concerned beefed up security on their own as law enforcers have yet to make a strong move.

“Since the month of Ramadan I’ve encountered three such attempts and managed to foil those. But this time they were so organised and strategic that they broke in, tied up me and my son, and took away machinery parts,” says GFP night guard Golam Mustafa.

The guard shows the range, special blade to cut iron rod, necessary electronic equipment to unscrew machinery and sacks left by the robbers.

“I can neither quit nor pay more attention to my job since there is a security concern for my life as well,” says Golam.

Speaking anonymously, a top official from an industry said: “I’ve informed authorities and law enforcers about the robberies when breaches of security in the area were reported much earlier. But who cares?”

Industry officers and employees say both the incidents occurred at the same hour of night.

During a field visit, it was found that the industries usually post four to five night guards each to check security lapse.

In both the cases the robbers came in large groups of 12 to 20, enough to outdo the security men on hand.

Moreover, police patrol the area only once in the day by car.

Neither employees nor officers of the factories even dare talk about the incidents and they don’t even want to report to the police.

Worse communication system and comparatively less population made the area vulnerable at night.

The officer-in-charge of Savar Police Station, Abul Khair Fakir, denied having any complaint or case filed.

“The factories have their own guards and some carry out production round-the-clock. We also patrol the areas all day long. What more can I do with 80 policemen for my jurisdiction with eight lakh population?

“If anyone files a case, we’ll try to get the accused; if anyone comes to complain we will take the case.”