MP sued
The Daily Star carried an editorial on 11 July under the headline "An MP sued by police sergeant'. The paper called it 'unprecedented' maybe, but fully justified'. The editorial was concluded saying that "If the case that has been lodged against the MP is allowed to thrown off course, before producing a conclusive outcome, then an invaluable opportunity of asserting the supremacy of law will be lost. That will be drawing a big blank."
While I was a college student I used to travel by bus. In some buses there were some written sayings. I remember one such saying "baboharey bongsher parichoya" meaning one's behaviour is the index of quality of the family he came from. I think the bus owners used to write these sort of notes just to tell the passengers to be nice and disciplined or avoid quarrels in bus on seat occupation.
I do not know much about the particular MP who manhandled the policeman for no visible faults in his duties, nor do I know the background of the gentleman but his behaviour has spoken a lot. Though I do not know backgrounds of many politicians of my age and how the present high profile politicians have been elevated to such positions now but I know a few who were student cadres during youths, some were area commanders of local mastans (muscleman) who used to work for some parties just for a little fame and money. Many of them gradually rose to the high positions. In course to time, they amassed money and became eligible for nomination from big political parties. I had a few opportunities to visit the offices of some such leaders for assistance to get my land vacated from illegal occupiers through their pet cadres.
Breaking law is the law of the land in Bangladesh. One feels insulted if he is asked to follow queue in lifts, gets angry if the traffic sergeant stops his car for non-compliance of traffic signal lights, if asked for identity before entering into an office of a big official etc. In the civilized world things are much more different. I fully endorse the DS views. I hope the present government will at least start some procedures through this case to educate our people to respect law. It will set an example for all.
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