Sense & Insensibility
Oh, those VIP Scoundrels!
They are the sons, brothers, friends, nephews and sons-in-law of people who are either famous or infamous in this upturned society of ours. They are the gone-to-the-dogs "VIP Scoundrels" who give a damn if they destroy the lives of thousands of young men and women of this country. Some of them even don't belong to this country, in heart and soul, therefore they give a double damn for the people of the land.
These people need awful lots of money to live a scandalous life -- a life defiled and debased by drugs, drinks, abnormal sex orgies, blackmail, pornography and more unknown profanity -- of veritable vulgarity. They would do anything to earn that kind of money. But, no! They would not try to earn it in broad daylight by working hard like you and I do. They are the creatures of darkness so they would earn it in the dark and in the quickest way possible.
But do they operate such illegal business in isolation? Do you think those "ungodly godfathers" who have been smuggling the drug called yaba into the country, or even manufacturing them within the country, have been doing it without the needed support, protection and shelter? Do you think that to operate the big time illegal business right in the heart of Gulshan or Mogh bazaar or anywhere for that matter they do not need any protection from the powerful people? Of course they do.
So, who provides these rascals the support and shelter they need? Instead of a straight answer hear this. There is a saying in Bengali that if you pull the ear, the head will appear. Similarly, if you pull a criminal, a corrupt politician or a police officer will appear. The recent haul of killer drug yaba is a case in point here. Stories of drug dealing godfathers having political connection have begun to surface already. They grease the hands of local police officers and politicians to stay out of trouble. It makes sense, doesn't it?
If the investigators (Rab intelligence) do investigate vigorously and mercilessly, they will definitely find heads of corrupt politicians, corrupt police officials and corrupt civil service officials popping up from the gutter. No one in their right mind would believe that the civil and police administration suddenly discovered the existence of the large network of drug business after the recent arrests. No way, sir. No way. Some of them knew all about it right from the beginning and enjoyed the cut from the profit. Please question all the narcotics department officials and police officers who were assigned to Gulshan area in last five to ten years and you will get the answer.
Already the name of a notorious political person, known for all sorts of vulgarity on earth including murder of a model girl has appeared in the media. This man is known to have been smuggling yaba and other drugs into the country since the '80s under the protection of the political power of the time. Also, names of close relations including sons and daughters of full ministers and petty ministers are also creeping up to uncover a crime racket of gargantuan proportion.
Many questions cloud our minds today. Why the premium residential areas like Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara are becoming hotbeds of crime and criminality? Why and how white collar criminals find it easy to rent flats there to peddle drugs and alcoholic beverages and organise sex parties and prostitution business? Is there no house owners' association or something in those areas to check the antecedents of the tenant (s)?
We also fail to comprehend the role and responsibility of the local police in preventing or reporting such criminal activities to the higher authorities before some other agency busts the ring, thereby making them look like fools. Why don't we see courageous police officers getting hold of the godfathers of organised crime networks, defying a verbal order from the top officials not to touch them?
We must give credit to the Rab for unearthing some big time corruption networks and the yaba ring on the basis of their own intelligence and surveillance. As long as they do it within the bounds of the law of the land, we should give them the required support. But, talking about the law of the land, do we have effective laws to apprehend and try all the crimes, especially new ones like cyber crime or taking kickback from government projects by ministers or powerful political people?
Creating appropriate laws to deal with "VIP Scoundrels," who wear tuxedos, diamond-studded shoes and dine and wine with you in posh private clubs, has become the need of the moment. Another issue that needs to be looked into with due seriousness is double-checking the criminal backgrounds of the citizens of some Asian, South-Asian, African and East European countries before issuing them entry permit or visa. Many of the citizens of these countries are known to be involved in drug smuggling, arms smuggling, organised prostitution and other harmful trades. Our embassies and high commission people have to be extra strict in issuing visas.
We have this uncomfortable feeling that hundreds of foreign nationals are living in this country with expired or forged visit or work permits. Many of them are allegedly engaged in smuggling business with the "VIP Scoundrels." Therefore, if the Rab intelligence digs into this area of unlawful activities they might open the Pandora's Box really.
There was a time when smugglers and drug dealers used to maintain a low profile and live in some nondescript areas to avoid detection. But things have changed drastically. Modern day criminals, with the support of some corrupt politicians and civil and police officers, have started to live in posh residential areas like Banani, Gulshan, Baridhara, Uttara and Dhanmondi. They have become members of most of the private clubs by paying astronomical sums and they offer free drinks to all and sundry. They regularly donate huge sums to clubs, mosques, madrasas, political parties and hospitals to maintain friends in every sector. We should learn to call them criminals on their face.
Unless these smugglers, corrupt politicians, corrupt police and civil officers, corrupt teachers, corrupt businessmen, corrupt doctors and drug dealers are ostracised socially, we shall never be able to create a healthy society we dream of so earnestly. These people with the strength of their ill-earned money will sabotage again and again our every attempt to make a just society that we must leave behind for the future progeny. Will someone ponder a while, please?
Shahnoor Wahid is Senior Assistant Editor of The Daily Star.
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