The Torture and Custodial (Prevention) Act
There is no denying the importance of the role a police force can play in maintaining peace and protecting the people of a state. Even when it comes to giving them the authority to use weapons, it is done so for the purpose of restoring peace and security within the boundaries of the state. All law enforcement agencies should recognise and understand that their primary obligation is to ensure the security of life for all citizens of the state that they are a part of.
It is disheartening to see cases of torture in remand and extrajudicial killings at the hands of our law enforcers which are horribly impacting our social and cultural environment. It creates an atmosphere where, quite frankly, no one can ever feel safe.
Although these malpractices are not always visible, the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, which the Jatiya Sangsad passed in 2013, acts as a safeguard against torture in remand and extrajudicial killings. It is meant to be a preventive measure and a reminder for our law enforcement officers to work diligently and within the boundaries of the law.
And most importantly, it is supposed to ensure that those who have been authorised to protect us do not ultimately turn out to be our antagonists. It is a law which should not be scrapped. And it should be law enforcers themselves who should be the first to understand why that is the case.
Mobarak Hossain
Chapai Nawabganj
