MEDIA reports of three incidents on the same day reflect the state of misrule in the country. First, a Tangail court on Sunday sent ruling Awami League lawmaker Amanur Rahman Rana to jail after rejecting his bail petition in a case for killing freedom fighter Faruk Ahmed in 2013. Having remained fugitive for over a year, the lawmaker from Tangail-3 (Ghatail) Constituency surrendered before the court in the morning and pleaded for bail. The court rejected the bail and he later landed in Tangail district jail. He, however, was able to escape serious charges brought against him in 44 other cases including murder, attempt to murder, extortion, grievous hurt, riot and unlawful assembly. In the second incident, a ruling Awami League lawmaker of Cox’s Bazar allegedly led his men to take away various goods that a mobile court seized Sunday from illegal occupants at Himchari, a popular tourist spot in Ramu Upazila. Saimum Sarwar Kamal of Cox’s Bazar-3 Constituency and some 40 to 50 of his supporters scolded a forest official for carrying out the drive. They also vandalized several establishments of the Forest Department. Thirdly, Rashed Sarwar alias Rumon (32), youngest son of Refat Amin, Awami League lawmaker of a reserved seat for woman from Satkhira was sent to jail on Sunday following his arrest in two extortion cases. According to media report Rashed was arrested once earlier in May this year with three women and later got bail. He was beaten by local people on September 15 in an unwanted situation.
These incidents are part of the ground realities which Bangladesh has been experiencing for last few years. It is unfortunate that even the lawmakers have involved themselves in serious crimes. A good number of them are engaged in managing undue advantages for personal gain.
We have differences with the government, but that is on points of mismanagement for lack of accountability. We know this is the time when any responsible government would take the prevailing lawlessness among the government and their own people seriously aiming to restore discipline in conducting the affairs of the state.
