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Home
minister with BGMEA leaders |
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News |
April 24, 2000
Dhaka,
Apr 23 (UNB) – Opening special policing mechanisms for the garment
industry today, Home Minister Mohammad Nasim said extortionists from all
business sectors would be removed as they held businesspeople hostage.
The
mopping-up process has already started from the extortionist-ridden
transport sector successfully, he told the BGMEA leaders at the launch of
Law and Order Cell for the readymade garment sector in DMP and CMP areas. “Extortionism,
a barrier to development, won’t be tolerated any longer,” the Home
Minister said issuing spot instructions for the police to go into action
against anyone engaged in illegal toll taking from the garment businesses. Nasim
observed a section of people, including politicians and unscrupulous
personnel from administration, were becoming millionaire without any
investment only through collecting toll. Terming
the garment industry as one of the crucial sectors for the development of
Bangladesh he exhorted the BGMEA leaders: “Go ahead without any
hesitation, none will disturb you.” He
also gave an open directive to police to “arrest all extortionists
irrespectively of their identities. Don’t bother about any Tadbir
(lobbying).” Referring
to the recent drive against extortion of toll on highways, he cautioned
gone are the days for those who had minted millions only by means of
extortion in last 21 years capitalising on political dishonesty,
indecision and administrative weakness. He
said he was astonished to learn that collected toll used to go to three
parties—so-called trade union leaders that include some political
leaders, transport owners and officials of the administration. “We
are trying to curb terrorism and extortionism with an iron hand from all
sectors,” said the Home Minister. He
mentioned the combing operation by police to check decades-old menace of
terrorism in southwestern region and said, “The terrorists, who held the
administration hostage for decades, have now been forced to surrender.” Expressing
good intentions of the government the minister said during Clinton visit
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina raised garment issue to the US President and
that proved that “our government is very much conscious about the this
sector.” The
two Cells exclusively have been designed for Dhaka Metropolitan Police and
Chittagong Metropolitan Police only to look after law and order of garment
sector. Mohammad
Nasim said curbing crime without cooperation of the people or concerned is
not possible for police alone. The
meeting also was attended, among others, by IGP of police AYBI Siddiqui,
BGMEA president Anisur Rrahman Sinha, immediate past president Khalilur
Rahman, vice president Anisul Hoq, Directors of Law and order cell in
Dhaka and Chittagong Tipu Munshi and Fazlul Hoq respectively. AYBI
Siddiqui said formation of crime-prevention Cells with the cooperation of
BGMEA people is a rare example, which will promote efforts for reducing
crimes by community policing. President
of the Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association Anisur
Rahman Sinha said: “We want a safe and secure environment so that we can
play a positive role for strengthening the country’s economy.” He
said they would have to compete on international markets in 2005, “so we
are facing some problems, one of them is terrorism that should be
controlled as early as possible for the sake of flourishing this
sector.” Later he handed over four vehicles and four phone sets to the Home Minister so that police could move anytime to control crime in this sector. |