At least 450 persons were arrested in police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) drives in different parts of the city just on Friday to curb crime. It remains unclear how many of those who were picked up could manage their release.

Those arrested were mostly picked up from hotels and residential areas. Such drives were conducted also in the past but there has been little tangible improvement in the law and order situation as most of the time the "god fathers" of criminals remain beyond the reach of the police.

The notorious criminals and their "god fathers" allegedly enjoy political blessings and in some cases police cannot go for action against some criminals due to alleged underhand deals with the criminals. Police was present at the Ittefaq Bhaban on Saturday during attack by armed outsiders and assault of some employees of the paper.

Thus even the presence of police does not ensure the prevention of crime in some cases. It appears that the police is losing moral authority to intervene and correct wrong doings. sometimes they cannot work due to political pressure , sometimes they refrain from doing so for rampant corruption.

The demand for reforms of the police to make the force effective and efficient was strong not in a distant past. But reforms remain elusive. Members of civil society together with some professional organisations supported the demands for bringing about reforms in the police force.

Nothing is however, heard about reforms of police force with the restoration political government. If the police lacks the motivation and the moral force to act against crime and criminals the people would not be able to live in peace.

All efforts must be made to ensure that members of this force can be effective against violators of law without the fear of reprisal. There should also be strong monitoring of their activities to keep them free from vices as far as possible.

-New Nation