Home Advisor Jahangir blames ‘Awami associates’ for crime wave

He called the media for a briefing at 3am on Monday at his Baridhara DOHS home

Amid calls for his resignation over the law-and-order situation, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has blamed “associates of the Awami League” for the spike in crimes, including robberies and muggings.

The home advisor called the media to a briefing at his Baridhara DOHS home at 3am on Monday. The public relations departments at the Police Headquarters and Dhaka Metropolitan Police informed reporters about the briefing.

Blaming the Awami League’s accomplices, the advisor said that they were spending money to create unrest in the country, but the interim government would not allow it to happen.

“These accomplices won’t be allowed to stand, sit or lie down anywhere. The law enforcers have been instructed to conduct raids stringently. If they fail, they [law enforcers] will face necessary measures as well. Our forces will go anywhere they’re needed, day or night, and prevent these [crimes]. I tell you without hesitation that I will make the lives of those committing these [crimes] hell. They won’t find refuge anywhere.”

The advisor said he gave “instructions” to the law enforcing agencies to strengthen their patrolling and ensure that “nothing [no crime] happens anywhere”.

“They’ll implement it properly. If they can’t do it, I’ll take action against them.”

“Through you [the media], I want to assure our people that the law-and-order situation will become better day by day. The Awami League has a lot of money and they are spending it in different ways to create instability in the country. They won’t be spared anymore. Our actions will continue through Operation Devil Hunt.”

When asked about the incident of a gold trader being shot at Banasree, Advisor Jahangir said that Awami accomplices were involved. “I’ll take action if the law enforcers were negligent in any way.”

After the gold trader was shot at Banasree, a group of students brought out a procession at Dhaka University campus demanding the resignation of the home advisor. When asked if was planning to resign, Advisor Jahangir said that no question of resignation arose if he could address the issue raised by the protestors. “If we can improve the law-and-order situation, there’s no question [of resigning].”

In response to another question, he said that the army was using the magistracy power that it had been granted properly. Everyone is working together and that has eased problems to some extent, he said.

Women students have recently raised concerns over an increasing number of rapes. Asked what action the government had taken, the advisor said that women should not worry.

“We’re always concerned about our mothers and sisters. Our law enforcement agencies are working on it.”

“The law-and-order situation will improve from tomorrow. Alongside the public, we will ease the problems in the law-and-order situation,” the home advisor said.