It is not that we the educated ones are not guilty of contributing to this situation of rendering the people helpless and voter less. Barring a lonely few, many have remained indifferent while some others have been over zealous in creating politics an easy game for the greedy and violent ones. The inevitable consequence is that the people are now helpless victims of abductions and killings in the hands of those who have to be feared.It needs to be reminded that a former Chief Justice’s enthusiasm to deliver a disputed and divided judgement made it easy to hold voter less election in January. The Constitution has been so changed in pursuant to that judgement that it has destroyed election politics for good. Secret killings and disappearances are nothing new in our misguided politics. Such horrid crimes are being committed regularly and fearlessly all over the country. Police appear helpless and they are active in identifying the dead bodies when found.The Home Minister is the Prime Minister herself. It fell upon the State Minister of Home Affairs to assure the nation not to feel worried. Meanwhile, throwing a challenge to the government, a businessman has been kidnapped from Narayanganj and this time the kidnappers are demanding money in return for his life.When a government claims to be elected but not elected, then it is at its weakest. To take advantage of the situation there grows many mini-governments under many godfathers. The crisis is of political uncertainty and the government’s lack of legitimacy. Most importantly, the issue of public accountability of the government has also disappeared with voter less election. So there remains very little consideration for the government to be responsible. The logic is irrefutable that the government we have does not enjoy people’s trust. After the seven abducted victims including a senior lawyer of Narayanganj Bar Association were brutally killed on Wednesday, it should be clear to all how insecure life is in the country and what a failed government we have. Disregard for other people’s lives has come to be seen as part of our politics.In the name of shoot-outs even the law enforcers feel officially free to kill. No civilized country can accept such killings without strict accountability of those who are assigned for protecting life. Killing in self-defense is not so easily available to trained law enforcers. International Democracy Watch body strongly suggested banning the special police RAB for its bad human rights record.The Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy publicly wanted to know how many more lives have to be lost in the hands of a godfather. She did not use the word godfather in plural. For the prevailing extreme lawlessness situation in the country, the Prime Minister has to take full responsibility because she is the Prime Minister rightly or wrongly. It is not a lonely responsibility if she knows how to work together and lead. In the present case, an FIR was lodged with the police. The media gave huge publicity about the abduction in Narayanganj. The human right bodies and eminent persons expressed deep anxiety and anger while urging the government to act with urgency. But their lives could not be saved.The abductors did not claim any ransom money like many others and there was no personal enmity as a reason for murdering them. Some kind of politics of state terrorism for silencing others is suspected to be at work.We are sure there are politicians in the Awami League who are aware of the damages done by bureaucratic politics in subverting people power and election politics.To save people’s lives is the demand of humanity, so it is time for national unity. Our view is that our law enforcing agencies would have no difficulty doing their best if they could be saved from being used politically. Like in a free country they have to be people’s police working professionally for the people’s safety and security. It is unthinkable that the police do not know who are the godfathers and organised killers.When the whole nation is stunned, panic-stricken and powerless for the insecurity of life, let our collective conscience be aroused to guide us to save the people and the country. The signs are hopeful that the men and women from all walks of life are getting bold and organised to develop popular resistance.The crucial fear is that in the face of a government out of control and devoid of political legitimacy, the country is sure to descend into leaderless anarchy. Our friends outside must take note of the human disaster that is brewing.
