Police methods to break-up peaceful protests in Bangladesh have become unlike trained police. The manner in which the police have broken-up a march led by the members of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, last Thursday once again earned for themselves shame. The pictures shown in the media are clear to see that police behaved overenthusiastically brutalising a journalist and some of the demonstrators. The demonstrators were responsible citizens of the country.
Police are to be well-trained and they must show restraint in a situation while facing demonstrations to prove the quality of their training and discipline.
Using violence is easy, it does not require costly training. We know the main responsibility should be shouldered by the Home Ministry because police carry out its orders. The police have to protect its pro-people reputation as well.
Whether a procession remains peaceful also depends on how tactfully police control the situation. Our most earnest advice for the police is that they must behave like police even when challenged. They cannot appear brutal. The demonstrators were our people and fighting for a cause in our national interest. They were expressing their anger against the government policy and not against the police.
It is right at this point, where we mark the contentious project not only to be highly detrimental for our nature, but an act of extreme defiance of a regime hell-bent to suppress all facts in order to set up a damaging project. From climate, wildlife, local populace to forestry all are at stake together, and any organized dissent to protect them is being mercilessly crushed. However, in spite of clear facts placed on its tables, the government still believes the Rampal project will not in anyway harm Bangladesh.
More than some 70 NGOs from 29 countries are reported to have jointly sent an urgent appeal to the Exim Bank of India for not financing the Rampal coal based power plant. Critics and environmentalists of the project have clearly pointed out the potential threats of widespread contamination and destruction of the country’s largest mangrove forest reserve, yet the government is defiant to realize its self-appointed project in the most authoritarian manner.
Police conduct contributes greatly to our image internationally as regards our human rights position. Our police are seen as part of the permanent government of Bangladesh. A political government is always temporary. But we all have to preserve our national image of civility and decency, no matter what kind of political government rules the country. Our national image is owned by us all. The politics of political parties may or may not agree with our broad national identity and decency.
Police are to be well-trained and they must show restraint in a situation while facing demonstrations to prove the quality of their training and discipline.
Using violence is easy, it does not require costly training. We know the main responsibility should be shouldered by the Home Ministry because police carry out its orders. The police have to protect its pro-people reputation as well.
Whether a procession remains peaceful also depends on how tactfully police control the situation. Our most earnest advice for the police is that they must behave like police even when challenged. They cannot appear brutal. The demonstrators were our people and fighting for a cause in our national interest. They were expressing their anger against the government policy and not against the police.
It is right at this point, where we mark the contentious project not only to be highly detrimental for our nature, but an act of extreme defiance of a regime hell-bent to suppress all facts in order to set up a damaging project. From climate, wildlife, local populace to forestry all are at stake together, and any organized dissent to protect them is being mercilessly crushed. However, in spite of clear facts placed on its tables, the government still believes the Rampal project will not in anyway harm Bangladesh.
More than some 70 NGOs from 29 countries are reported to have jointly sent an urgent appeal to the Exim Bank of India for not financing the Rampal coal based power plant. Critics and environmentalists of the project have clearly pointed out the potential threats of widespread contamination and destruction of the country’s largest mangrove forest reserve, yet the government is defiant to realize its self-appointed project in the most authoritarian manner.
Police conduct contributes greatly to our image internationally as regards our human rights position. Our police are seen as part of the permanent government of Bangladesh. A political government is always temporary. But we all have to preserve our national image of civility and decency, no matter what kind of political government rules the country. Our national image is owned by us all. The politics of political parties may or may not agree with our broad national identity and decency.
