Editorial
Home minister goes smug
Her indulgence to cops doesn't go with the job
Despite the glaring instances of police excesses on journalist, lawyers and members of the public in recent weeks, home minister Shahara Khatun claims that police are now performing far better than before.
Setting aside all misgivings, she even recommended that journalists should also admit that they are behaving better now.
We are lost for words at the home minister's comment as this comes from her only a day after some of the members of the police had abused a teenage girl and manhandled her parents in the police club under Kotwali thana. As if that was not enough, they baton-charged the lawyers and journalists who tried to help the victim girl.
Actually, her words sound far more disappointing than the misdeeds the police have been committing with increasing frequency.
This is, however, not her first attempt to pull the wool over our eyes in the face of increasing frequency of excesses by the police. Even on the issue of disappearances that had rocked the nation, she alleged in the parliament that all the disappeared persons were members of criminal gangs.
These are nothing but unabashed attempts by her to portray members of law-enforcement agencies in a brighter light.
But as the top boss of the police, she cannot wash her hands of some of the serious cases of offence in which members of police force were involved.
While cushioning the police from public criticism for their excesses, she cannot forget that as a disciplined force, the police are obliged to be accountable and answerable to their superiors and through them to parliament.
The government must make the police accountable for their actions. As they deserve to be rewarded for their good work, they are equally liable for punishment if they are found on the wrong side of law.
We, would, therefore, urge her to be careful with her utterances, where if she were to be callous it would only instil a sense of immunity in the police.
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