ANTI-CORRUPTION campaigner Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed grave concern over some law enforcers’ role in allegedly diverting investigation of cases and failing to safeguard suspects in their custody. TIB also called for judicial investigations into the allegations of misusing power by the law enforcers, including Barguna’s Rifat murder, Feni’s Nusrat murder, and the recent rape of a fifth-grader in Cox’s Bazar. Since the police recruitment and loyalty are politically measured, chain of command as well as the integrity of the Police Department’s high-ups has become a matter of concern. In many cases, the police appear as violators through its role supposed to be the protector of innocent victims.
The credibility of police has come under question following the allegation of forcing Rifat’s wife Aysha Siddiqa Minni, in collusion with an influential quarter, to give a confessional statement about her involvement in her husband’s murder. In the statement, TIB also expressed concern over police failure in providing necessary security to victims, their family members and key witnesses. The politicisation of police in this kleptocratic rule pushed the country into an autocratic system where law enforcers are more powerful than any other professionals. The trust of people on the law enforcers has eroded for their power abusing. But the problem is not laid only in the law enforcers’ apathy to their duties; rather the illicit nexus with ruling stalwarts is also a big reason for the downgrading of police morality.
When law enforcers are accused of different crimes and unethical activities being influenced by a section of ruling party men, there should be a judicial enquiry committee to get the real picture of the situation. We must say the government should not create any unnecessary hassle in conducting impartial investigation by the police department independently.
