Describing the killing of a businessman in Old Dhaka as a “very distressing incident”, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today called on all segments of society to work together to curb the rising trend of intolerance and vigilante justice.
He made the remarks while briefing journalists after inspecting the housing and living conditions of law enforcers at police mill barracks area in Dhaka.
Calling the incident “unthinkable in any civilised nation,” the adviser said, “We have already brought five individuals under the purview of the law. One was arrested last night, while two were earlier detained by Rab with weapons, and two others were held by the metropolitan police.”
“Our detective teams are working on the ground, and we are committed to ensuring that all those responsible are brought to justice,” he added.
Addressing the broader issue, Jahangir Alam said, “We have become increasingly intolerant. Even minor incidents are provoking extreme reactions. This is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement — teachers, parents, university faculties, doctors, and all segments of society must step up,” he said.
He said law enforcement took immediate action and rejected claims of indifference.
“If law enforcers had been inactive, these arrests wouldn’t have happened within two days,” he said, citing other recent examples — including the swift legal action over a bomb hoax on a Kathmandu-bound plane and a separate incident in Chandpur — as evidence of proactive law enforcement,” he added.
“We are not sitting idle. In some cases, there may be brief delays, but action is taken immediately once information is verified. We are also receiving support from the media, which we hope will continue,” he said.
Asked about public frustration over delayed justice, the adviser said, “Ensuring trial is not within my jurisdiction. My responsibility is to hand over the accused to the law; it is the judiciary’s role to deliver punishment.”
He urged the public not to take the law into their own hands and to inform law enforcement immediately in the event of any incident.
