The crime rate soared in 2003 exceeding the previous year's incidence despite sporadic government efforts to bridle crimes, greatly eroding people's confidence in the state-provided safety and security.

Surveys carried out by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) show that the number of homicides rose to 3,450 in 2003 from 2,773 in 2002 and rape incidents almost tripled from 119 in 2002 to 327 in the year that ended yesterday.

Police repression cases totalled 1,879 in 2003 against 439 in 2002 while 1,346 abductions took place in the just-ended year against 840 of the previous year.

Sources noted that while the crime curve showed an upturn, what struck the public mind more was the fearlessness of criminal cartels, who operated violently caring little about the consequences.

It appeared more frustrating for the public that so many hardcore criminals remained beyond the reach of law despite the government initiatives for speedy trials by

setting up tribunals, which handed down capital punishment to scores of convicts in murder cases in an unprecedentedly short span of time.

The killings of more than 12 law enforces and local politicians by operatives of outlawed parties in the southwestern region of the country threw a challenge to the police force to control these elements.

Public morale was at a low ebb due to the failure of the law enforcers

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to rescue Chittagong business magnate Jamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury even in six months into his abduction.

The recovery of over one lakh bullets of Chinese rifles and powerful explosives weighing 120 kg from an abandoned truck and from a political activist's house at Jogarpara village in Kahalu of Bogra in June last was an eyeopener to the country's security intelligence. It showed them how Bangladesh had long been used as a route for international trade in illegal arms.

The recovery of four AK-47 rifles, two revolvers, 20 hand grenades, four time bombs, a huge quantity of ammunition of AK-47 rifles and explosives at Kuril Badda in the capital in November took people by surprise.

Murders of political leaders and activists by rival party men and a sense of insecurity reportedly prevailing among the members of the minority communities sent an unhealthy signal to the international communities about the 13-year-old democratic order in the country.

As many as 11 members of a Hindu family, including a four-day-old baby, were burnt to death as alleged robbers set their house afire in a remote village at Banshkhali in Chittagong on November 19.

The working atmosphere for journalists, particularly their security, also did not improve. There has been no let-up in assaults on newsmen working at the grassroots level as in most cases they are targets of hooligans enjoying political backing from one party or the other.

However, former lawmaker Joynal Abedin Hazari was punished for brutally assaulting journalist Tipu Sultan.

According to statistics released by the Bureau of Human Rights Bangladesh (BHRB) yesterday, 92 newsmen were injured in attacks in different districts in the last one year and 44 others were intimidated.