A good number of law protectors have turned into violators of law as they are involved in extortion, hostage taking, fraud, corruption and abduction, among others, Home Ministry source said.
According to Bangladesh police webpage, the vision of Bangladesh Police is to provide quality service by competent, efficient and dedicated professionals enjoying trust and respect of citizens to make Bangladesh a better and safer place to live. The Police is committed to enforce law, maintain social order, reduce fear of crime, enhance public safety and ensure internal security with the active support of the citizens.
Meanwhile, a vested quarter of the disciplined force was involved in crimes like extorting money from innocent people often through filing false and fabricated cases. Police also took bribes from check posts giving passage to harmful drugs such as Yaba. Knowledgeable sources and relatives of those detained said Wednesday that lawmen had been directly involved in the drug smuggling.
They abduct people for ransom and even shoot them if do not meet demand for money, sources told the Daily Observer. They said crimes committed or helped by police and other law enforcing agents have spread like an "epidemic" with victims subjected to further harassment when sought redress by law.
RAB arrested Constable Jahangir Alam in front of Orchard Plaza in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area following allegations that he abducted one Mannan and forced him to draw Tk 150,000 from his bank account on November 8.
However, no punitive action has been taken so far against Constable Jahangir Alam who works in the Protection and Protocol Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Five people including three cops in plainclothes and a woman were arrested from the capital's Kuril flyover area early on Saturday for extorting a person on November 1.  The arrestees detained the victim from Bhatara and demanded taka one lakh for releasing him.
The arrestees were identified as Assistant Sub Inspectors Meer Shirajul Islam and Kayser Ahmed, Constable Abdur Rahman of Bhatara Police Station, driver Md Asaduzzaman and a woman named Borsha.
The victim was identified as Sahjahan Shamsu, an employee of a private company. RAB said those arrested were handed over to Bhatara Police Station.
RAB-1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Tuhin Mohammad Masud told daily the Daily observer that Jafar, relative of victim Shamsu, complained to them that his uncle was abducted by a group of miscreants who demanded Tk 1 lakh for his release.
Sub-inspector Anwar Hossain of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station was arrested for shooting a man in the capital October 19. The SI shot Shah Alam, a car driver, in both legs at close range in Taltola area around midnight, and tried to portray him as a mugger and a gunfight victim. Alam, 27, alleged the SI shot him because of personal enmity.
According him, the SI was having an extramarital affair with his wife, Shanta. The police officer got furious when Alam threatened him that he would disclose the matter to Anwar's wife.
A few such cases in recent times indicated that some sections in the law enforcement agencies might be getting involved in abductions for ransom and other reasons.
The incidents of abduction have increased considerably in recent times as the statistics of police headquarters showed that 879 people, mostly children and businessmen, were  kidnapped in 2013 - the highest number of abductions in a single year since 2004.
RAB data showed that they had rescued 119 victims of abduction, including 20 children, in 114 successful operations during which the elite force arrested 184 alleged kidnappers.
A new breed of criminals led by some current and former members of the army, RAB and police has emerged in the capital and elsewhere in the country, according to RAB sources.
RAB on February 16 arrested Fazikul Islam, Savar police assistant sub-inspector, former army soldier Rezaul Haq, who left the army in 2012, and police informants Miran Khan and Sujon Sheikh. The other two, Md Sabur, alias Sabur Chairman, and Shamsul Haque are members of a gang of smugglers.
Shafiqul, a student of Prime University, later was released after his father paid the kidnappers a ransom of Tk 20 lakh. Police, however, said Wajed officer-in-charge of Kafrul police station was closed for negligence of duty.
It was alleged that Kafrul police sub-inspector Mosharaf Hossain, assistant sub-inspector Robiul Alam, constable Niamat Ali, former army man Jahidul Islam and three others abducted Amanullah, a businessman in Keraniganj, from a cab under Mohakhali flyover and demanded Taka 50,000 from his family for his release.