Police or politician?

We are flabbergasted by the comments made by officer-in-charge of Hatibandha Police Station, of a decidedly political nature, at two consecutive programmes at which 1100 former BNP and JP activists formally joined the AL at Gaddimiri union. The OC welcomed the former activists to the party and commented that they took the right step in joining the AL. 

We wonder, is the OC, as a civil servant and law enforcer, the right person to "welcome" anyone to the AL? Is it within his term of reference to attend and address a political gathering, quipping in a manner that befits only a politician? The OC, when asked if he, as a law enforcer, could make such political speeches, defended himself by saying that his speech was aimed at maintaining law and order, and not at politics. Needless to say, the logic of the OC is lost on us. 

This sort of blatant partisanship on the part of law enforcers highlights the extent of politicisation of public institutions and reinforces the public perception that law enforcers serve the narrow interests of the party in power, rather than that of the people. 

The AL should not feel elated in any way by the OC's remarks. It must remember that this same OC might become as blatantly anti-AL as he is anti-BNP now, if and when the wind changes.

It is unfortunate that successive governments have turned the police, in particular, into a partisan tool. Rather than discourage partisan behaviour, we are disturbed to see the ruling party allowing law enforcers to act as party spokespersons, thereby putting the professional neutrality of the force into question. The politicisation of the police reflects poorly on democratic governance, and should be stopped.