Eminent citizens on Monday expressed deep concerns at frequent incidents of abduction, disappearance and killing and said that the government had miserably failed to tackle law and order and ensure security of lives and property of the people.
They said that the government had no excuse for its failure. The people wanted the government to ensure that no more incidents of abduction, disappearance and killing take place, they said.Participating in a human chain on Manik Mia Avenue in the afternoon, the citizens also said that the two major political parties – Awami League and BNP – should work together for ensuring security of lives and property of the people instead of indulging in blame game.
Lawyer Shahdeen Malik said that panic had gripped the citizens amid repeated incidents of killing after abduction. ‘We all are concerned and feel
insecure…We do not want to see such abductions and killings in future,’ he said and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of such grave crimes.
Economist Debapriya Bhattacharya said that the economy and business would suffer if there was no security of lives and property of the citizens.
‘Our goal to become a middle-income country would not be achieved as investment would stop due to lack of security to lives and property,’ he said, urging the government to establish rule of law to check such abductions and killings.
Human rights activists Khushi Kabir said that the government must ensure that no one would fall victim to abduction, enforced disappearance and killing in future.
She demanded proper investigation into all cases of abduction and killing and trial of the perpetrators.
Former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said that security of lives and property could not be ensured if there was no rule of law.
Gonosasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury said the Rapid Action Battalion should be disbanded immediately to check extra-judicial killings and abductions.
Freedom fighter Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat said that the people’s right to move freely was being grossly violated under the AL-led government.
Lawyers, university teachers, rights activists, journalists, family members of abduction victims and social workers joined the human chain.
The citizens on Saturday tried to form a human chain at the same venue to protest at the recent incidents of abduction and killing but the police foiled their efforts by snatching the PA system, banners and festoons. – Agencies
