Bangladesh Army chief tells law enforcement agencies to act tough against mob violence

Bangladesh Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman has advised the country's law enforcement agencies to act tough against mob violence, vandalism and looting and ensure an atmosphere of peace, a development that comes amid a fast-deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

In public comments delivered last week, he assured that all political parties can hold meetings and rallies in Bangladesh, rejecting suggestions from a section of the current dispensation to ban the Awami League headed by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and assured that the Army will take all necessary measures to organise free and fair elections.

There has been a marked deterioration in the law and order situation across Bangladesh with increasing incidents of robbery and looting, besides Islamists ratcheting up tensions, according to people familiar with the matter.

The interim regime headed by Muhammad Yunus has been unable to improve the situation, they said.

On Saturday, addressing a meeting at a Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), local traders said that the overall trade and investment situation in the country was not satisfactory due to high value-added tax (VAT) and tax rates as well as the weak law and order situation.

DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said, "The current global economic situation, the challenges arising in the country's domestic business, the complexity of tax and VAT system, the crisis in foreign exchange management, delay in export-import process and above all weak law and order situation are adversely affecting the economy, which is particularly affecting our SME (small and medium enterprises) entrepreneurs."

"Businessmen want to pay tax and we pay tax and VAT, but we do not want any harassment," he said, adding that it is imperative to ensure rule of law to make sure business operations are active at any level.