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 the chief guest at a debate competition organised by the Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in the capital Dhaka.
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 while responding to queries about the July 16 violence in Gopalganj.
On July 16, at least five people died and scores of others injured in a series of clashes between law enforcers and Awami League supporters in Gopalganj, centring a rally organised by the National Citizen Party to mark the first anniversary of the July uprising which ousted the authoritarian AL regime.
Student teams from Sir Salimullah Medical College and Southeast University participated in the debate on the topic 鈥楶rocrastination in the judiciary system is the main driver of rising mob crimes鈥�.
Debate for Democracy chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the competition.
Ashraful Huda observed that criminal activities like extortion, looting and mob violence were 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.
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 Md Sohag on July 9 in Dhaka, Ashraful Huda expressed concern about public inaction.
鈥楶eople captured videos of the incident on their mobile phones, but did nothing to intervene or inform police,鈥� he said, stressing that public responsibility was vital to combating mob violence.
