Police are facing serious difficulties to trace the whereabouts of the top terrors now staying abroad as they do not have biometric data of the criminals. Biometric system is used for security purpose like individual identification to scan finger, eye iris, voice, signature, DNA, and hand geometry. This system help the cops trace the criminals wherever they stay either home or abroad. The criminals know it very well that cops would not have any scope to detect them due to lack of biometric data.
In the face of massive hunt, hardened criminals fled the country 20 years ago. Many of them changed their identities and managed to obtain citizenship in different countries. Staying abroad including UAE, they call from Nepalese or other countries’ number using VPN and commit serious crimes like murder, kidnapping and extortion here. Therefore, it is very difficult for the law enforcers to trace the criminals who are still controlling the capital Dhaka’s underworld crimes from abroad through their local sidekicks. Criminals call their targeted people in Bangladesh using the phone numbers of a third country with the help of technology.
The foreign ministry will have
to play a key role and seek
cooperation from the foreign countries
to bring back the fugitive criminals
On December 27, 2001, police announced a list of 23 most wanted criminals, declaring bounties for information leading to their arrest. Bangladesh Post on Monday ran a story headlined ‘Top terrors still at large for lack of biometric data’ says the foreign countries where the criminals are now staying, are reluctant to provide any assistance to Bangladesh police. Besides, lack of prompt coordination between police and ministries concerned are also to blame for the failure to bring back the criminals home even after their arrests.
The connections of Jisan Ahmed and Zafar Ahmed Manik with the murders of Awami League leader Zahidul Islam Tipu and college student Samia Afran Jamal Preety have once again came in the limelight. The murders took place on the street in the capital on March 24 this year.
It is now a big a concern for all of us that the fugitive criminals may become active again ahead of the next national election. So, efforts to bring back fugitive criminals are yet to yield any concrete result to this end.
The home ministry in association with the foreign ministry will have to continue ‘communication’ with the countries where the fugitive terrors are believed to have been hiding.
The foreign ministry will have to play a key role and seek cooperation from the foreign countries to bring back the fugitive criminals. Besides, absconding accused can also brought back under the extradition treaty or MLA (Mutual Legal Assistance) agreement. Therefore, there is no alternative to consolidating cooperation to bring the criminals back home.