PRESIDENT Abdul Hamid and others in the government are asking police to restrain themselves and not to be harsh with the people. But the question is if they are ready to listen when they see they are being used to abuse their power at random for the politics of the government. Saying this will be understood by the government’s sycophants that we are against the government. No responsible citizen wants the government to fail and chaos to engulf the country. The disturbing fact is political use of police do not allow police to remain as police. A sensible government not blinded by power understands this. The responsibility of police discipline has to come from police leadership.
Police in civil clothes as well as their informants continue to harass the capital’s the innocent civilians for personal gains. Students and others returning home alone or with their parents find it difficult to escape frisking, extortions or getting implicated in fabricated cases.
The stories and incidents of police excess committed by field level officers and forces under their command in this month alone have crossed records and resulted in shocks in the public psyche. Those in the government giving meaningless advice that the police should behave like police are also feeling concerned about indiscipline in police. But nobody but government is responsible for making police feel too powerful and unaccountable.
Stories of BB officer Rabbi and DSCC officer Bikash are of no reference now. Only on Friday, a Swedish couple was robbed of US$ 3000 in Jessore by the police. And also on day before, a young businessman and his female friend were extorted by the police on duty without no reason in Uttara in the capital city. Luckily, the senior police officers have been prompt in initiating actions against the offenders.
Commenting on the prevailing situation Md. Nurul Huda, a former IGP, writes, ‘Officers’ personality features represent one element of the problem. Organisational culture and practices are also often responsible for police misconduct. Police deviance is symptomatic of a system-wide problem. The issue and the remedies, quite clearly could not be viewed in isolation’.
It is the quality of leadership that maintains discipline in police. The police officers must not show political weakness for damaging police discipline.
Police discipline is essential for building protection of the people and safety of the country. Indiscipline in police will only hasten chaos and increase crime.
