Sincerity needed in campaign against casinos
The Business Standard spoke to Muhammed Nurul Huda, former inspector general of Bangladesh Police, and Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, Assistant Professor at the department of law, University of Dhaka on the recent law enforcement strike against the casinos in Dhaka and possible measures to rectify the situation
Muhammed Nurul Huda
These casinos, which are illegal in the eyes of law, have been operating in Bangladesh for a long time.
Given that this scenario continued for so long, the negligence of security officials in their attempts to stop these casinos from running is obvious. When such criminal acts were raging on, it should have been the high priority of security forces to prevent them.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
However, having recognized the negligence of the law enforcement agencies, we should not indulge ourselves to justify the actions of the perpetrators based on it.
If the delay of the security forces is worth being investigated, then let there be proper investigations. But the law cannot allow perpetrators to get away with criminal activities just because actions have been delayed.
It is also true that law enforcement agencies have their own course of work to follow, their own paperwork to submit and many protocols to abide by.
Therefore, if sometime the actions look delayed or interrupted, it is probably because when addressing sensitive cases such as these, the law enforcement agencies have to work while defying many limitations.
Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon
Illegal business empires like casinos burgeon in Bangladesh with the help of a nexus of dishonest law enforcement officials and influential political leaders. They build such illegal business empires through a chain of cooperation.
When these criminal groups enjoy privileges from crème-de la-crème of the society, they go for rapid growths through these very high-end connections.
This is not just today's reality; this culture of illegal businesses has been there for a long time. If we want to get rid of them, along with other anti-drug agencies we must strengthen our institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The law enforcement agencies have to maintain their professionalism. The actions against the culprits should be vigorous, continuous and persistent.
When all institutions including the ACC, security agencies, and anti-drug agencies will ensure their professionalism and at the same time will act resolutely against these crimes, we will gradually get rid of these problems.
From the face of it, the solution to this crisis may sound simple but maintaining professionalism in government institutions requires real sincerity.
When the government will become serious about dealing with these crimes, their elimination will also become easier.
For instance, this campaign against casinos got vigorous when the Prime Minister issued specific instructions. If others from the government maintain this sincerity for long enough, we will soon have these casinos removed forever.
