It is futile to expect that the government would take punitive actions such as closing or transfer of a police officer or constables for merciless beating of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists who came out on the streets to protest the recent hike of fuel price and the subsequent rise of essential commodities in the market. The opposition against corruption and mismanagement is not coming only from political parties. The hungry and the deprived ones are also showing anger against the government and its thugs everywhere.
The government unjustly hiked the fuel price without any public debate on the one hand, but the law enforcing agencies go on rampaging through the protests of people who are coming out on the streets on the other. Along with the police personnel, the AL activists, especially the BCL ones with sharp weapons, pound upon the opposition activists as if they have become the law enforcers.
In line with what they did in the past, on Sunday also, not only did the police and BCL activists beat and injure over 100 BNP men, authorities sued hundreds of leaders and activists in different districts across the country. According to reports, many of the injured were hit by pellets, including two in the eyes.
From the government it is said that there is in the country democratic space for the opposition to have protest programmes, but in reality, the situation is quite the opposite. In Bhola, two of the BNP leaders were killed by police, but we have not seen any action against the police, either by the department itself or by the government. When opposition activists get killed or beaten mercilessly, there is no accountability. But when the matter is with the government party activists, it acts swiftly, as in the recent case of Borguna where police beat BCL men roughly.
About a couple of weeks ago, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet came to Bangladesh to see for herself the human rights situation here. Soon after her departure, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the opposition would be allowed to hold protest meetings and rallies. No, the opposition does not need the prime minister’s approval to do so; the Constitution of the country gives them that right. Yet her comment was all for a show.
The UN Human Rights High Commissioner strongly urged the Bangladesh government, before leaving the country, to form an independent body to investigate into the widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Some ministers are engaged in confusing the government’s position because that is the job of these ministers. The policy decisions are not made by the ministers. No false propaganda will work. The international community is taking interest in Bangladesh. ‘Husband and wife’ will not be to the advantage of either side. The police have done enough for the government including stealing of people’s right to vote.
The police should be wiser not to earn the public wrath. The police cases against political protesters must stop. There are politicians to deal with political cases politically by preventing protesters by the use of prevention law. The judiciary or the police cannot be party to the criminalised political opposition.
Most of the criminal cases are against political protesters and more and more judges are appointed to deal with political cases. The bail business is flourishing in the country for innumerable police cases of political nature.
