The New Nation - Internet Edition

ONLY about a month ago, the owner of a garment industry was shot dead for his failure to pay up an amount of money demanded by an extortionist gang. The operators of wholesale businesses in the city's Karwan Bazar area have been pleading to police and RAB for months to protect them from the resurgent extortionist gangs. The businessmen in this big wholesale market of perishables and other commodities in Dhaka city, are at their wits' ends about how to meet the rising demands of these gangs. But they are helpless and feel only obliged to meet these demands as they do not get the required help and protection.

The daring robbery at a jewelry shop at Prince Plaza in Danmondi on Wednesday and extortionists holding sway over Karwanbazar, are not isolated cases. These are representative of the upsurge in crimes which threaten business and business establishments in varying degrees. Thus, it should come as nothing exceptional or peculiar if businessmen now demand truly dedicated and timely action from the government and the law enforcement bodies for the protection of their lives and properties. For the persistence of such attacks are causing erosion in the confidence of businesses on the business environment.

The functioning of the economy on top gears is linked inexorably to business conditions remaining conducive and good law and order is counted as a very important part of this conducive business environment. Attention from the highest level of the government, therefore, needs to be directed to the very pressing need of taking appropriate actions, specially giving stern directive to the law enforcement personnel and bodies, to protect businesses from extortionists and other criminal activities. Higher economic growth which is aspired by the policy planners, cannot be achieved when businessmen are too stressed and lose ability and motivation to vigorously pursue business activities.