The most recent two agonising murders namely, of former MP Mohammad Momtazuddin of Natore and of Advocate Monjurul Imam of Khulna have utterly shocked the conscience of the whole nation. These two successive murders specially, have rocked our confidence that distinguished people living honest and dignified lives or popular politicians striving for restoration of positive politics are not above the risk of life.

The last in the sequel is the murder of Dr. S.K. Mukharjee of Jhenida, an extreme old man of 84, one of the senior most doctors of the country, a senior politician, a renowned social worker and freedom fighter having unblemished career all his life. Dr. Mukharjee was killed on the 18th instant allegedly by members of a local terrorist group by inflicting repeated knife-blows on his person. As disclosed by his family sources the terrorists demanded a huge amount of money from him and having been refused they threatened him and ransacked his chamber couple of days before the occurrence. Dr. Mukharjee's family insiders, in view of his clean background, dismissed all other probabilities and reiterated their suspicion on the malcontent terrorists as responsible for the killing.

The entire population of Jhenida stood cross-fixed in overwhelming grief and surprise at the utterly senseless murder of S.K Mukharjee. An octogenarian, father figure, renowned social worker, a celebrity S.K. Mukharjee initiated his battle for the betterment of his people. He participated in the Anti-British movement, language movement, fought in our liberation war and finally reached the fag end of his people-oriented life donating other day the penultimate piece of his paternal land to a local school. He did never foresee a time that dedication of total life for the cause of humanity would be counted much less than an amount of illegal toll and refusal to pay the same would cause his death.

Thank God, Md. Momtazuddin and Advocate Monjurul Imam were leaders of a major political party and as such we could feel the weight of protest. Had they been non-partisan victims I am afraid, there would be hardly any people outside his family and friends to mourn their deaths. A politician whatever party he belongs to can expect at least an outcry in case he is killed. One can not but feel pity for thousands of distinguished non-partisan people who do have none but their family and friends. If any one of them falls prey to the predators and gets killed can the tragedy make headline in a newspaper or spark off outcry in any circle?

The popular slogan demanding 'the guarantee for natural death' coined years ago prompted by many different unnatural deaths caused in those days seems to be a far cry. As I understand, the slogan emanated from frequent deaths caused by accidents, medical negligence, curable diseases, violence, manslaughter etc. The expanding horizon of manslaughter alone has by now assumed a new and alarming dimension.

The grim history of murder is as old as the civilisation itself and no one can claim total eradication of it as, precisely, it is not possible. History witnessed tragic cases of political murder, murder out of female intrigue and murder for gain. The ordinary and the distinguished citizens considered themselves off from those avenues of risk, felt more or less unaffected by at least some kind of logical deductions. Now we are far removed and have entered upon a new era in which every citizen irrespective of his innocence or respectability will feel insecure and thrown at the mercy of the outlaws. Thematically it is just a game and depends upon wishful decision of the killers regardless of any sense or else a game played by the hired killers at a bargain price. It is a new phase of utter disregard for human life. Life has become so cheap and insignificant that it may be taken by the killers at any moment on a trifling altercation or disagreement like refusal to pay illegal toll or upon a bit of resistance put to the them for however lawful cause. The killers, abductors and terrorists are hunting their prey like game birds as of hobby.

There is no reaction from the Government or the opposition political parties, which clearly send the message to the terrorists and killers that this time they mean to see an end of lawlessness. It is now well accepted view that criminalisation of politics and absence of political commitment are by and large responsible for growing lawlessness and terrorism. Police is responsible for maintaining law and order and protecting the law abiding citizens through surveillance and bringing the criminals to justice. It is also unfortunate that they have failed to protect the life of Dr. Mukharjee and many others like him but far more unfortunate and alarming is the daring and desperate mind set of the outlaws nurtured in their confidence that they are above law.

M. Moazzam Husain is an Advocate of the Supreme Court.