Home adviser's 3am press conference more worrying than reassuring: DU Prof Selim Raihan
The 3am press conference of Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury is more worrying than reassuring, Selim Raihan, professor of economics at Dhaka University, has said.
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.
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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.
The briefing came after a group of Dhaka University students demonstrated on campus and issued an ultimatum for the adviser's resignation within 1pm today.
Speaking on the demands for his resignation at the press briefing, Adviser Jahangir said, "This is not the first time people have wanted me to step down."
He said in regards to their complaints, if he can improve the situation, there would be no reason for him to step down.
Jahangir blamed the Awami League and its cohorts for the ongoing volatile law and order situation in the country. "Awami League supporters are doing everything to cause instability. They have looted a lot of money and using it to destabilise the country."
"We will never allow this to happen. Whenever needed, our law enforcement will go and put a stop. I will make nights sleepless for the AL men, they will find no safe place," he warned.
"Patrols will increase to ensure nothing bad happens from tomorrow," said the adviser, adding that instructions have been given in this regard and that negligence in the duty will result in action.
"Our work will continue through Devil Hunt. We will make sure these criminals cannot sleep, sit or stand anywhere," said Jahangir.
