Chain of command in police under stress?

A latest intelligence report on police reveals a worrying picture of indiscipline in the country's largest law enforcing agency. Based on the intelligence findings, a prominent Bangla daily reported that in the last six months more than eight hundred orders of Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner have been violated. In most of the cases, these occurred in the form of manipulating transfer orders to stay in the same station as if growing a stake in it. It is easily understandable that this unusual long stay has very little to do with professionalism. Rather, it strengthens their hold on the area and prolongs their nexus with vested interests. As a result, the law and order situation of the area aggravates and general people have to suffer due to apathetic attitude of the police to crime control.

The investigation report reveals that a certain quarter of police forces has been allegedly continuing this malpractice by bribing and using political powers including regional loyalty. This constitutes not only insubordination but also abuse of power through political linkages. Even the seven-point directives issued by police headquarters and headquarter of DMP failed to contain this dismal situation. This is a serious threat to the chain of command in the police force, and by implication, to the law and order situation.

Against this backdrop, the government has to look into this matter seriously. They should rise above party interest, take immediate action against corrupt elements and undertake a thorough reform of police administration which has been long overdue.