The odious nexus of crime and politics in our country has been confirmed once again, if that ever needed any confirmation, by the antecedents of the leader of a criminal gang killed in the latest firefight with the RAB in Raozan.

In fact, the antecedents of almost all those killed in recent encounters with the RAB show that most of them had risen from rags to riches and the catalyst that propelled them to the phenomenal path of power and crime was the support and sponsorship lent them by the politicians.

The two most sought after criminals in Bangladesh to have met with their death at the hands of RAB, 'Ahmedya' and Jan-e-Alam, reportedly benefited from political patronisation of the ruling party. In fact, the former was chairman of a local union parishad in Chittagong, belonging to the BNP, having joined it from Chhatra Shibir. The latter was a hardened criminal, with a very influential BNP MP of Chittagong as his godfather.

As yet, twenty-seven such alleged criminals have been killed in encounters with the RAB. While the government's effort to nab these criminals is laudable, it is our opinion that, alive, they would be good source of information in the government's effort to address the sliding state of law and order in the country.

We feel these criminals can only be neutralised if they are divested of political support, which is possible only if the political parties de-link themselves from these elements by purging them from their folds.

Herein, we feel, lies the central role of the party in power. On the ruling party devolves a greater responsibility of ridding politics and society of these criminals. Failing which, the government's much-publicised action against the criminals, however pious in intent, will be ineffective, and its credibility and authenticity come to be questioned.