POLICE hierarchy has expressed concern over the plummeting law and order situation in the capital city and the 17 districts of Dhaka division. The alarm was sounded at a quarterly review meeting of law enforcers held in Dhaka recently, according to a report in the Prothom Alo. Comparative statistics of crimes ranging from murder to rape and abduction and child abuse between the first two quarters show a higher trend during the second quarter. Around five thousand six hundred cases were registered during the first three months which increased to more than six thousand during the second quarter of the year. Around twenty-eight thousand arrest warrants were not executed leading to an increase In the crime rate.

If this can be the situation in the capital and the surrounding districts which get more attention of the administration then the picture in the far-flung areas can easily be visualised. Senior police officers have expressed concern over the deteriorating crime situation and cited a number of cogent reasons for the same. They have accused politicians of Interfering In police activities and underlined existing political chaos and also indifference of police officers as the causes behind proliferation of crimes. They feel that due to politicisation many good officers have been sidelined while inefficient ones who are not even fit to run a police station are on the ascent. Delay in promotions and postings are also said to have created poor work environment. Professionalism has fallen victim to politicisation. We have in the past warned the government against politicising of administration saying it could backfire. But no amount of good counseling has prevailed upon 'the policy matters of the ruling party. The situation must be observed carefully and corrective measures taken immediately, so that professionalism gets encouraged and rewarded in the administration.