Complete success ‘impossible’
Independent insurgency experts and criminologists interviewed by bdnews24.com agree that the failure to recapture the escapees has raised questions about the capability of law enforcement agencies. They fear that the exodus may encourage some citizens to indulge in criminal acts.
Zia Rahman, chairman of Dhaka University’s Department of Criminology, believes that lack of professionalism among security personnel plays some role in the episode.
“It is unfortunate that a convicted criminal escapes from custody like this. I appreciate the government’s zero-tolerance policy against extremism and the efforts of law-enforcement agencies to uphold it. However, fleeing in this way dilutes their successes and instead encourages people of dubious morale to indulge in criminal activities,” he said.
Abdur Rasheed, a security analyst, was more sympathetic to law enforcement agencies. The retired Major General said a few setbacks cannot determine the outcome of a comprehensive campaign to root out insurgency.
“You cannot expect 100 per cent success in an anti-terrorist operation, even with the best of equipment, manpower and resources. Any major campaign of this kind will have both results in the short term – success and failure.
“Yes, the successful escape of terrorists from custody was a setback. But this does not change the direction of the basic goals of this campaign in general. Law enforcement agencies need to do some calibration and minor corrections.