"It was the CCTV that helped the British authorities to identify the people who are believed to have carried out the bomb attacks in London. Since we cannot brush aside the possibility of similar incident here too, we've decided to set up CCTV in Bangladesh," State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar said yesterday.

In the wake of steep slide in law and order, a home ministry meeting yesterday also ordered to form a databank of bombers, car-lifters and other criminals, amend traffic rules, initiate river patrol at Ashulia amusement area and intensify activities of mobile courts and police checking in the city.

The ministry also formed a committee to investigate the alleged extortion by a policeman in Mirpur and rewarded 10 Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officials and 42 policemen for their performance.

CCTV
Alarmed by the July 7 bomb attacks in London, the government decided to bring under watch public movement at all entry and exit ways of the city--bus stations, launch terminals, railway stations and airport--as well as the parking lots, markets, banks, hospitals and KPIs.

"We are requesting authorities of the private organisations to set up CCTV at their respective institutions," the state minister told reporters after the meeting held at the home ministry.

Deputy commissioners (crime) of police and Rab officials will sit with the owners of private institutions to ensure that CCTV is installed at their organisations.

The government, meanwhile, will set up CCTV at public institutions.

POLICE EXTORTION
The home ministry formed a committee headed by assistant inspector general of police (security cell) to find the fact into the alleged extortion at the drug shops in Mirpur by local Assistant Commissioner of police Ziaul Haq Zia.

Chemists and druggists across the country observed countrywide half-day strike Wednesday to protest the police harassment and demanded Zia's removal by July 23.

The week also saw agitation by traders at Katabon over extortion while four policemen were arrested yesterday for extorting and snatching ornaments at a Tantibazar jewellery shop.

Babar said, "Rab, police and intelligence reports confirmed that the Katabon incident was not an incident of extortion but an outcome of internal conflicts among the traders."

On arresting the police extortionists, Babar said police themselves are arresting the police extortionists. "Solving the problem overnight is not possible," he said.

ROBBERY, MUGGING CAR-LIFTING
Babar denied rise of mugging in the capital but admitted that car-lifting and robbery have increased.

Finding that car garages are a source of crimes related to car-lifting, the home ministry asked the garage owners to keep photocopy of the licence and the bluebook of the vehicles that come to them for repairing work.

The meeting noted that the car-lifters sell stolen cars either intact or by disassembling the parts mostly to 794 garages in the city. A list of 78 car-lifters with photographs has been prepared, it said.

On robbery, the state minister said the law enforcers are doing their best. Six robbers died during an operation recently.

On the home ministry decision that steps would be taken against the commanding officers of the law enforcement agencies for incidents of robbery, extortion and mugging in their respective areas, Babar said steps have already been taken and it is "a continuous process."

DHAKA SECURITY TO BE STRENGTHENED
The meeting asked the police and Rab to raid the resident hotels and slums in the city every alternative day and beef-up security at the KPIs and diplomatic zones.

The meeting also asked the law enforcers to stop any move that destabilises the situation in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs).

The ministry ordered raid on Karwan Bazar to stop weight manipulation. The chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) and mobile courts will begin operation there soon.

Meantime, the city corporations, communication ministry and inter-ministerial bodies will sit to amend the existing traffic rules and speed-limits on highways.

On arresting Bangla Bhai and his men, Babar said the police are vigilant and active and have already arrested 11 people, including Bangla Bhai men, in Rajshahi. "Help us with information about Bangla Bhai and his men's whereabouts, we'll take steps keeping secret the identity of the informant."

Babar expressed serious dissatisfaction over the delay in chemical test of heroin at the Department of Narcotics Control and asked the department to quicken the process.

Home secretary, inspector general of police, Rab director general and the CMM were present at the meeting.