Editorial
The photograph says it all
A case of indiscreet indifference
The pieced-together photographs on the back page of yesterday's issue of this paper are tell-tale. One shows a gun-toting pro-ruling party youth with a pointed revolver in hand on Rajshahi University campus. The other illustrates his reappearance in a hospital alongside a Rajshahi police official visiting an injured medical student.
It is not for the first time that deliberate indifference has been shown to a marked-out offender. When photographs and video footages of youths in action were available in the past, the police often made use of those selectively or not at all.
This kind of indifference on the part of the law-enforcers cannot set a good example of law-enforcement.
On previous occasions bigger criminals were found to have appeared with high-ups on public stage basking in the clout of a minister or so remaining elusive to the police.
While armed goons stomp around in public claiming proximity to power, how can campus, or for that matter, any place exude a sense of security?
The prime minister has repeatedly exhorted the police administration to go tough on law-breakers, regardless of their political identity. Obviously, the PM's instructions have fallen on deaf ears. But we believe these should be followed through.
The fallout of this callousness on the law-enforcers' part reflects badly on government's credibility, particularly its commitment to the rule of law as well as its democratic image.
Once again we urge the ruling party to keep its student cadres on a tight leash so that they may not cause further damage to the government's image at the fag end of its tenure.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments