Joint operation in a day or two
The government will launch a massive combing operation in a day or two to nab the Jamaat-Shibir men who attacked law enforcers and unleashed mayhem across the country recently.
“Police are fully ready to begin the operation. You will see action in a day or two,” Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir told The Daily Star yesterday.
The move comes at a time when there is a sense of insecurity among people due to the apparent reluctance of law enforcers to take action against the Jamaat-Shibir men for brutal attacks on police.
“Without carrying out such a drive, it'll be tough to maintain law and order,” said Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of the Awami League.
Apart from police, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Ansar will also join the operation. The intensity of operation will vary from district to district based on the gravity of the Jamaat-Shibir violence.
At least 77 people, including eight policemen, have been killed and hundreds of people, among whom are 300 law enforcers, injured till date as the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir went on a rampage across the country after a war crimes tribunal on February 28 sentenced Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah to life imprisonment for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, according to sources at police headquarters.
Leaders and activists of the Jamaat-Shibir attacked law enforcers and resorted to violence in Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Bogra, Sirajganj, Pabna, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat, Sylhet, Chittagong, Satkhira and Jhenidah.
During the combing operation, law enforcers will block the entry and exit points in the districts to ensure the accused cannot flee.
Besides, the law enforces will seek help from local ruling party men to trace the Jamaat-Shibir men, said sources in the Awami League.
If necessary, added the sources, the combined force will be allowed to open fire to avoid any deterioration in law and order.
The government has gathered intelligence about the attackers and found that over 300 trained Jamaat-Shibir men from different districts carried out hit-and-run attacks with the help of local party men.
Mohammad Moniruzzaman, commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said the law enforcers could not trace the Jamaat-Shibir men immediately after the attacks as the attackers came from other districts and fled away to carry out attacks elsewhere.
“Now, intelligence has traced the attackers. Their movements have constantly been under watch,” he added.
The decision of the combing operation came after the authorities concerned had several meetings. In the last two days, the home minister held meetings with the law minister, the state minister for LGRD and cooperatives and a special assistant to the prime minister. Junior ministers of the home and law ministries were present.
After the cabinet meeting on Monday, the home minister talked to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior ministers about the possible operation.
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