For police reform to be substantive, the first order of business should be the enactment of a new Police Act
The question is one of making the bureaucracy more responsible and responsive.
It is imperative to bring the police under a system of accountability that earns public confidence.
On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, announced his plan for the partition of the subcontinent—in particular that of Punjab and Bengal.
Of late, media reports that indicate that the infamous phenomenon of extrajudicial killings has been resorted to more by the mainstream police outfit than the elite unit of the law-enforcing apparatus should bring no comfort, and indeed should be viewed with concern.
The unfortunate fact of our times is that all reports on Bangladesh’s socio-economic progression almost invariably point to the lack of good governance as a significant deficit in our developmental strides.
The piece “No ‘crossfire’ deaths since US sanctions” published in this newspaper on January 11 will definitely engage all thinking minds, especially those entrusted with the maintenance of law and public order.
In recent times, there have been many discussions, discourses and deliberations on “muktijuddher chetona,” wherein passionate and eloquent speakers have emphasised the imperative of holding aloft the spirit of our great Liberation War.
In view of the unprecedented deadly extremist violence affecting the body politic, concerned citizens might be wondering how a significant number of otherwise suave and liberal educated young men could have been motivated to commit such ghoulish actions.
As the nation observes the 12th anniversary of the ghastly grenade assault that was carried out at an Awami League rally in Dhaka city on August 21, 2004, discerning observers have to agree that the horrendous crimes committed on that day has left an indelible impact on the course and character of constitutional politics of Bangladesh.
For the uninformed multitudes, remembering Bangabandhu on August 15 is perhaps a ritualistic observance when the mind does not delve deep to grasp the historical significance of the tragedy.
Since the community has to be involved in the rooting out strategy, residents have to know about the doable on their part. Therefore, the visibility of men, women, and children in their usual course of activities, especially the recreational ones would be a definite indicator of normalcy.
Commenting on the sorry state of prosecution of criminal offenses, a lead report of this newspaper on July 19 stated that “the long-standing demand for reforming the prosecution system with professional lawyers remains unmet” and “loyalty to the party in power
International cooperation has to be sought discreetly from countries like the USA, UK, France, and Turkey, wherein there is a pool of information about the strategy and tactics of ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Closer to home, in Indonesia, there are admirable educational and rehabilitative programmes that have proved successful in weaning away people from the violent path.
Arrest under Section 54 for prosecution under preventive detention cannot be entertained.
The murders of bloggers, intellectuals, priests, academicians, rights activists, and also persons of ordinary vocations committed by allegedly extremist groups...
Public confidence increases when the police complaints system provides for an external body to supervise an investigation, or review the evidence and conclusions drawn by the police investigation
Excessive use of force is decidedly more complex and multidimensional than the few bad apples' theory would imply.
