Rule of law must preside
We are shocked to note that supporters of a Chhatra Dal leader not only obstructed the police from performing their duty but attacked them on Friday morning, injuring five officers. The incident took place in front of the capital's New Market Police Station, where at least 30 people gathered to forcibly take away Mohammad Hossain, alias Mithun, joint general secretary of Chhatra Dal's central committee, from police custody.
According to a report in this daily, law enforcers arrested Mithun in connection with the stabbing of two computer traders in Elephant Road on January 10. According to a Prothom Alo report, Mithun allegedly works for top criminal Sanjidul Haque Emon, the main accused in the stabbing case, and had ordered another arrestee of the January 10 case to be at the scene of the stabbing incident. Referring to some video footage, the report also mentions that Mithun's supporters, at one point in their squabble with police on Friday night, questioned the police's authority, asked if they knew about "Mithun's contribution to the uprising," and boasted about their own participation in the movement.
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Since August 5, the alleged involvement of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists in crimes including extortion and rape have come up a number of times. Although party leaders, including the acting chairman, warned party activists to refrain from unlawful activities, and Chhatra Dal suspended Mithun and another leader Riyazul Hasan Rasel after Friday's incident, such actions do not seem to have had much impact. Some of the party's activists appear to be following the same path as the Awami League's fallen goons, who exploited political power to get their way and even commit heinous crimes. Instead of building an image that aligns with the expectations of the July uprising for a corruption-free Bangladesh, where the rule of law is respected, activists of BNP and its student wing seem to be doing the opposite. But they must remember that a person's affiliation with any party or apparent participation in the movement does not entitle them to special favours or immunity from legal consequences.
As one of the major political parties, the BNP must go the extra mile if it seeks to gain the public's trust. Merely issuing statements or suspending one or two bad apples is not enough. The party must strongly distance itself from individuals with criminal records and take punitive action against anyone committing crimes under its banner. Meanwhile, law enforcers must intensify their efforts to arrest top criminals, many of whom were released on bail after August 5 and have resumed their criminal activities. They must regain their confidence to carry out their duties without political interference. Ensuring citizens' safety should remain their highest priority.
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