Editorial
State of law and order and human rights
Take ASK report seriously
We are deeply disturbed by the Human Rights Review Report-2011 of Ain-o-Shalishi Kendra (ASK), a human rights watchdog which, among other things shows an increasing trend of mysterious and enforced disappearances in the country. It negates the oft-repeated claim by the government that the state of law and order in the country has never been as good as now.
The report says that no fewer than 51 persons vanished between January and December last year of which 15 bodies were recovered. This is nearly four times more than the figure of enforced disappearances in 2010. And as many as 92 people were killed in so-called crossfire and more than a hundred died while in custody of the police.
What makes the matter even more disconcerting is that the accusatory fingers are being pointed at the law enforcing agencies, particularly the rapid action battalion for the disappearances. The report is another grave indictment of the failure of the state to provide safety of its citizens. And there cannot be a situation worse than one where the state becomes the cause of the insecurity of its people.
These are grave indictments which agencies must themselves do all they can to be heedful of and compliant with. The human rights body is not much wrong in its assertion that the agencies are either unwilling to act or are unable to do so, being under the control of some influential quarters. And it is for its own good that the agencies nab the culprits, whoever they may be.
The details of the report should be taken seriously by the government. These enforced disappearances crossfire-killings and deaths in custody must be stopped. Not only does the government stand to lose credibility for its failure to fulfill its election pledge that it will stop extrajudicial deaths, the serious degradation of human security has also a grave consequence on our social fabric as well.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments