Incidence of missing and abduction has reportedly increased in the capital and other parts of the country in recent times, spreading panic among people.

Organised gangs of criminals posing themselves as law enforcers are roaming city streets to commit various crimes, detective sources said.

Nine persons, including a politician, a senior journalist, a university teacher and a schoolboy, have gone missing or fallen victim to abduction in the last two months.

North South University teacher Mobashwer Hossain, Bangladesh Kalyan Party leader M Aminur Rahman and journalist Utpal Das are among those who remained missing.

Bangladesh Human Rights Commission Chairman Ahsan Habib Linkon and Secretary General Monjur Hossain Isha expressed deep concerns over the incidents.

The number of disappearances is also going up in the country. Human rights are seriously being violated in the country, leaders of the commission alleged.

Some law enforcers were found involved in such the incidents, the families of the victims alleged.

Addressing a press conference at Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association office here on Thursday, relatives demanded rescue of Bangladesh Janata Party Secretary General Mithun Chowdhury and his associate Ashik Ghos.

“We are now seriously worried about their whereabouts,” said Sumona Chowdhury Shima, wife of Mithun Chowdhury.

Dr Mobashwer, an assistant professor of the Faculty of Social Science, did not return home in Rampura from the university on Tuesday.

“We have received a complaint in this regard and are investigating it,” Khilgaon Police Station officer-in-charge Md Mashiur said.

Utpal, a senior reporter of news portal purboposhchimnews, has remained traceless since October 10.

Although 24 days have already gone by, law enforcers are yet to be able to find the journalist.Leaders of journalists said the disappearance of Utpal has panicked the journalist community.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said recently that law enforcers are working to find Utpal Das.

In the wake of a growing number of abduction spree, police conducted drives and arrested three fake detectives — Hafijur Rahman, Monir Hossain and Dulal Bepari — in the capital on Wednesday night.

During interrogation, the arrestees confessed that they were involved in various criminal activities, including robbery, snatching and kidnapping.

In exchange for huge amounts of money, the gangsters release them, police said.

Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman said as the armed gangsters are posing themselves as detective policemen innocent people are falling prey to them (gangsters).

Recently, 16 fake detective policemen were arrested with firearms, police uniform, handcuffs and walky-talky in Banasree and Shahbagh areas.

“We are trying to nab their associates, acting on their confessions,” the DC added.

It was found that businessmen and schoolboys have especially fallen victim to the gangsters.