It will not be much of an exaggeration if some people say that the politics we have is not far short of a war, may be a police war the objective being annihilation of the political enemies? We have to repeat saying that as we do not have political leadership at the helm of affairs, the country is being controlled and regulated by bureaucratic thinking. The war is to see that the government is not for change.
In the absence of political leadership to pave the way for good governance politically through conciliation and compromise, we have, instead, bureaucratic thinking of intolerant police politics prevailing. Thus a section of the police have actively joined the politics of corruption and violence making rigid discipline in police difficult to maintain for the high officials.
A section of politicians in the government and police officials helping each other in committing crimes and cruelty. Suspending some lower level police officers or punishing few of them will not work as a solution. Police power politics must end if law and order is to be restored. Random police cases against the political opponents have given police the opportunity to abuse law. The government itself is in chaos. There seems to be no effective control necessary for running a good government.
The situation has become such with the bureaucratic wisdom guiding that the politicians in the government, though not confident about their popularity, still are satisfied seeing themselves continuing in power. They have been made dependent on the police power of intimidating the opposition with criminal cases and imprisonment.
The human stories published in the press just for one day yesterday described a dismal picture of a government without governance. One lead story says 32 more lives were lost in road accidents on Friday and 29 others on Thursday. In total 176 people were killed in road accidents within last seven days. In the capital city three persons including a member of the police killed when a bus hit a motor cycle.
Looting of public banks is so well publicized that there is no need of mentioning. It has become acceptable the public banks are for plundering by anybody enjoying or hoping to enjoy influence over the government. The police sources have revealed to the press that mobile banking has also gone out of control.
A news item in the newspapers yesterday claims quoting some social scientists that violence against women and children has risen alarmingly. The scientist have blamed absence of rule of law and social accountability for such tragic events. One Bengali daily has given the number of persons killed during the period of ten days covering the Eid festival as 242.
On the same day there was also news of one OC of a police station was closed and two SIs (Sub-Inspectors) were suspended for their complicity in the crime of local thugs beating to death child Rajon. The allegation includes helping the criminals to flee. Another news speaks of railway level crossings have become death traps.
There is also a report published in the press yesterday that 6 Awami League men have been arrested on the allegation of snatching tender documents in the capital city. This is mainly the area of making money by the young party workers of Awami League who are also working in League with the police for their anti-social activities.
The tragic stories of human trafficking are to be found in the press on a daily basis narrating the sorry tale of how our men, women and children were being sold promising jobs without the knowledge of the government. Thousands of such victims died in Thai jungles and at sea.
After the large scale trafficking got international exposure the government was alerted. Now some such human traffickers are said to have been arrested. Though one is not sure if the big ones have anything to fear. It is learned from a police source that 70 persons in Bangladesh are to be sued for the crime. In Thailand 72 persons including an Army General are going to face trial for killing hundreds of victims of human trafficking for ransom from their family members in Bangladesh.
A business report produced on investment in Bangladesh by UK government has expressed big disappoint to say that despite huge investment opportunity the outsiders are obstructed to do business in Bangladesh for unbridled corruption.
Such stories of crime, corruption and lawlessness do not show signs of governance. One can rightly ask whose government who are running? Police harassment is no governance. To have impunity for corruption is also no governance.
When police are treated as part of politics by the government, discipline in police force is bound to crumble. Sadly, the ruling parties for their over anxiousness to remain in power do not worry about inflicting lasting damage to the police as impartial law enforcing agency essential for the rule of law and justice.
It is also true that in a free country one is not justified in blaming the government alone for every wrong. The vast numbers of public employees have to feel guilty for not doing what they are required to do for the public positions they are holding.
Meanwhile we have earned abroad the image of a country known for in-fighting, crime, corruption and cruelty. We can certainly prove our competence and honesty to ensure good governance for peace and safety.
