No reason to deny that we have failures: Asif Nazrul on law and order situation

There is no reason to deny that the interim government has failures and the country's law and order situation is such that it cannot afford complacency, said Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul today (24 February).

"However, we are making efforts, engaging in self-reflection, and striving intensely to overcome these failures. Each failure is met with strong efforts and determination," he said while talking to journalists before attending a workshop in Rajshahi city.

He said, "We are working with a dysfunctional institution, especially the police administration and the judiciary. It is taking us some time to get back up from there."

Asif also highlighted concerns regarding the influence of "fallen fascist forces" who have vast financial resources. "When there is money and ill intentions, it is possible [for anyone] to destabilise the country's law and order situation. This is something we are closely monitoring.

"Our home affairs adviser is working on improving the situation, and we have also discussed it in our coordination meetings," he added.

He further said, "Proper action must be taken against those with strong evidence against them, while the innocent should not face unnecessary harassment. This will be coordinated and addressed accordingly."

The home adviser held an emergency meeting at his home at 3am today several hours after the video and news of the gruesome mugging of a gold trader in the capital's Banasree went viral, leading to calls for his resignation by students and netizens for failing to tackle the country's deteriorating law and order situation.

He blamed the Awami League and its cohorts for the ongoing volatile law-and-order situation in the country.

Regarding the press conference Selim Raihan, professor of economics at Dhaka University said the 3am press conference of Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury is more worrying than reassuring.

In a Facebook post today (24 February), Selim asked, "If the home affairs adviser has to hold a press conference at 3am on the law and order situation in the country, is there any way for an ordinary citizen to not be worried or panicked instead of being reassured?"

"Women's safety is threatened every day, both at home and outside. Are ordinary citizens getting a remedy for the theft, robbery, murder, and robbery that they face in their daily lives? Does the home affairs adviser have any satisfactory answers for all this?" he asked.