The answer is with us

Rabindranath's fabled poem Juta Aabishkar (footwear invention) at last had solved a kingly dilemma between covering the whole world or covering one's two feet to avoid getting soiled. 

The message is sharp, pointed and directional in today's serious law and order situation: concentrate on what you can do yourself, and you will find a commonsensical solution to an apparently intractable problem!

Lately, in a series of attacks on the police, constable Mukul Hossain was fatally hacked on November 4  and assistant sub-inspector of police was stabbed to death at Gabtoli police check-post two weeks ago.  In the latest incident five cops on duty had Chinese rifles, but they didn't fire a shot at the motorcycle riding killers scurrying off ! Now they have been ordered to act in self-defence, a pro forma requirement in police manual.

In fact had they acted proactively in the specific incidents, maybe the harm done could have been averted, or in the least reduced. On top of it, there was a real chance of overpowering the culprits and capturing them. 

Based on a BBC report, if I recall it correctly, 21 policemen have died on the line of duty since before the end of last year. None of the killers have been tracked down, far less punished.

If all these are happening with the police then a chilling sense of insecurity cannot but stalk citizens' footsteps. Frankly, who is not mentally carrying a travel advisory of his or her own seems to be the question today.

It is the primary responsibility of the police to provide security to a law-abiding citizen, especially, a threatened individual, who had informed the former of having received threat calls. But this does not absolve the community of its moral responsibility to tip off the police of any brewing danger they may have sniffed because of their proximity to people in general. When an incident occurs, seldom anyone at hand would raise a hue and cry or create a group dynamic to freeze the killers in their tracks. The answer lies in a sensitisation campaign with business establishments ramping up their respective security arrangements. We want to see functioning and analysable CCTV cameras. 

It is sad to note though, that the police lack a counter-terrorism team. One only hopes that there will be a full-fledged one in the likeness of what other countries with similar challenges already have. In this context, it is important that Western countries avoid any selective sharing of information with us, something that a New York Times article has hinted at.

The extremist elements have not dropped down on the earth from nowhere. They mingle and operate in society as social beings, have their parents, siblings, relatives, friends and acquaintances to be in touch with. Besides, Bangladesh is a densely populated country where nothing can be kept hidden for a long time.

The recipe may sound a little simplistic to experts who tend to suspect that 'homegrown cells were eager to form affiliations.' All the same, it's not a mission impossible to contain them given the busting of terror networks with caches of weapons by our law enforcers from time to time.

There is one positive signal beaming through clouds that were hovering unnecessarily over our home series in international cricket. The Zimbabwean national side is in our midst promising competitive encounters for our cricketers and the cricket-loving people of Bangladesh.

Unfortunately South African women's cricket team, after some hopeful signs of visiting our country, has withdrawn from the Bangladesh series. They did not cite any security reason categorically, instead parried it on the ground that some players have had examination schedule issues. 

Interestingly, after Dean Jones, legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne told a press conference in New York that he is at a loss to understand why the Australian cricket team suddenly postponed its trip to Bangladesh. He spurned the concern over security adding that it was uncalled for. He even termed the Australian Board's decision as ridiculous and pointed out that it has raised a storm of criticism in Australia itself. Many thought, ''He added that Australian cricket being now in a delicate situation was perhaps afraid of playing Bangladesh.'' But he was quick to point out that he was not one of them. However, he advised Australia to make a trip to Bangladesh to silence the critics on this score. 

The Under-19 World Cup Cricket scheduled to be held in January in Bangladesh is very much on, according to ICC assurances. Between now and then we must collectively strive to make this important international tournament happen in our country. For, we must do everything possible to avoid being bracketed with a national side looking for a third country to stage our cricket series with other competing nations. 

With our safety ranking high in the region for cricket, we are in a comfort zone but discretion is the better part of valour. 

The final word is, of necessity, Albert Einstein's: ''The state is made for man, not man for the state.'' The state's obligation to protect its citizens is of paramount importance in the social contract that binds the government to the people.

The writer is Associate Editor, The Daily Star.