Editorial
IGP's directive against tender violence
Better late than never
THE IGP's warning to his under command that their failure to check tender-related violence in future would make them liable for punishment is welcome news. He has instructed the police to go after anyone, irrespective of political affiliation, who attempts to create a law and order problem, particularly related with submission of tenders.
While we commend the IGP for his stand, we wonder whether the warning has come too late and whether or not the reaction is too little given the grave damage the many instances of tender snatching by the appendages of the AL, since it assumed power to run the government, has done to its image.
It is a dismal picture that has brought shame to the notion of good governance when one sees the blatant inaction of the police when it comes to the question of taking action against the BCL or the Jubo League cadres engaged in snatching tender boxes or preventing others from dropping bids for a government work by force.
In fact, the situation has come to such a pass that it has become an unwritten stricture that everyone other than those belonging to the ruling party cadres or those not being sponsored by them, has forfeited automatically the right to participate in government tenders. The state of affairs had degenerated into such a situation that the police was constrained to suggest that the tender boxes be kept in the thana or the office of the police super. And the matter has degenerated to such a state that intra-cadre rivalry of the BCL / Chattra League over dominating the tender business has resulted in deaths and injuries.
We wonder why the IGP was constrained to pass such an order when it is the normal function of the police to maintain law and order and go after those that are trying to break it irrespective of the party the offenders belong to. And why did he have to wait for orders from the highest tier of government before reacting?
We would hope that the law enforcing agencies will be more proactive and not wait for orders from the political authority to do what they are bound by their terms of reference to do anyway. This is not the first time we have heard the government talking of going after the law breakers cutting across party lines. However, their commitment to improve law and order must be translated into substantive action and the police must be allowed to function without political interference if the rule of law is to established in its truest sense.
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