Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has highlighted the challenges in controlling mob violence, stressing that law enforcement can’t always manage such situations with force alone.
Speaking after a visit to the Tourist Police Headquarters on Topkhana Road in Dhaka on Thursday, March 6th, he said that violence against police officers is becoming increasingly common.
He pointed out that since the change in power, incidents of mob violence have been on the rise. Both the police and foreign nationals have fallen victim to these attacks, which include breaking into homes and causing destruction.
Most of the attackers are reportedly identifying themselves as members of a group called "Touhid-e Janata."
Despite ongoing efforts, such acts of violence have not been fully controlled over the past six months.
When asked about the issue, the advisor remarked, “I won’t disagree with you on this.
This is happening, but whenever such incidents occur, we immediately take legal action.”
Jahangir Alam also called on the media to help spread awareness about the rising violence.
“You’ll see that even the police are being attacked. People need to be made aware of this. When the public becomes this unruly, it leads to many problems. You can’t always control it with force, but the law enforcement agencies are actively working on it,” he said.
He also assured the public that the government is working to prevent such incidents in the future.
In response to a question about whether student groups can carry out operations, the advisor made it clear that only law enforcement agencies have the right to conduct operations.
“No one, except the law enforcement agencies, has the right to carry out any operations,” he stated.
The advisor also addressed concerns about the shortage of personnel in the Tourist Police, mentioning that they lack their own building and face challenges with their vehicles.
“If the Tourist Police are more active, foreign tourists will come to the country, making a significant contribution to the economy,” he added.
On the issue of highway robberies, particularly along the Tangail-Rajshahi route, the Home Affairs Advisor acknowledged the problem.
“These incidents happen mostly on the Tangail-Rajshahi route, but we are taking measures to prevent them in the future. Necessary instructions have been given to the law enforcement agencies to curb such robberies,” he said.
As Eid approaches, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury reassured the public that steps have been taken to prevent extortion and robbery during the holiday season.
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