Is money above the law?

We are appalled to see that influence and money has gotten the better of the law in a recent incident. It has been a few days since a luxury sports vehicle hit and injured four people in Gulshan. The driver was underage, driving under the influence of alcohol and had no valid license who was apprehended on the spot by the police; whose car has been impounded by them – as if these are not enough for a criminal case against the faulty party.

Four persons have been injured, one of whom was given Tk15,000 as "payment" for his medical treatment in return for not pressing charges and made to sign a blank sheet. Amicable settlement is not unwelcome, but who has determined what fair compensation is. Did any lawyer represent the poor rickshaw puller or was he forced to accept Tk15,000, which is clearly a paltry sum hardly enough to pay for his medical bill and lost income.

Police's role is clearly questionable. Why no legal action against the offender? The explanation given by the authorities is that no one has come forward to file a complaint and hence, no case has been filed. Are we to understand that unless a victim comes forward seeking legal redress, the police will not investigate and press charges? What sort of message is this giving out to future offenders, especially when the police was a witness to the crime and had the culprit in custody? As long as anyone has the right "connections" and a fat wallet, the law will look the other way.

We hope that the record is straightened out and that ours is a society based on laws, not influence, is established.