Former inspector general of police Ashraful Huda on Friday said that intelligence failures were responsible for some of Bangladesh鈥檚 most critical national crises, including the assassinations of former presidents Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman, as well as the deadly August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka.
鈥楾hese tragedies could have been averted with timely intelligence and proper coordination,鈥� he said while speaking as chief guest at a debate competition organised by Debate for Democracy at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in Dhaka.
Student teams from Sir Salimullah Medical College and Southeast University participated in a debate, on the topic 鈥楶rocrastination in the Judiciary System is the Main Driver of Rising Mob Crimes鈥�, chaired by Debate for Democracy chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.
The Debate for Democracy put forward seven demands to curb mob violence, including the need for political will, ending the culture of judicial impunity and raising public awareness about extrajudicial crimes.
Ashraful Huda, who began his career in the Pakistan Army and later joined Bangladesh鈥檚 police service, was responding to questions about the violence in Gopalganj in July 16.
Clashes broke out during a rally organised by the National Citizen Party to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising, leaving five people dead and dozens injured in confrontations between law enforcement agencies and Awami League supporters.
鈥楾here was clearly an intelligence failure in Gopalganj. The agencies failed to anticipate the situation and take preventive measures,鈥� Ashraful Huda said.
He urged authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering to prevent future unrest.
He further noted that criminal activities like extortion, looting, and mob violence are being increasingly carried out under political protection.
鈥楶eople involved in such acts believe they are untouchable because of their political connections,鈥� he said.
Ashraful warned that this culture of impunity, if not stopped, could pave the way for the return of the ousted Awami League government.
鈥楾he spirit of the July Uprising stands against such violence. Repeating these crimes is a betrayal of that spirit,鈥� he said.
Citing the recent killing of scrap trader Lal Chand alias Md Sohag鈥攚ho was fatally attacked in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital on July 9鈥擜shraful Huda expressed concern about public inaction.
鈥楶eople recorded the incident on mobile video but did nothing to intervene or inform the police,鈥� he said, stressing that public responsibility is vital to combat mob violence.
Ashraful Huda also suggested that the declaration of the next general election schedule could help prevent further political unrest by redirecting energy into electioneering.
Ashraful Huda, who served as the IGP months after the August 21, 2004 grenade attack, was acquitted of the charges of negligence linked to the alleged flaws in the probes during the BNP-led government.
