Discretion and law-enforcement
Mr. Huda's article on the subject (Sept:01) attempts a rational analysis of the policing attitudes in law enforcing activity. However, in my opinion the very terminology "law enforcement" has a connotation of force and violence attached to it. A better term could be law implementation; which is realistic and rational. The subject matter in Mr. Huda's write-up should be applicable to all services concerned with implementing the law.
In Bangladesh, this covers the Ansars, Police, and Rab. I feel BDR and the Armed Forces should not be associated with these activities; as they are border guards and fighting forces respectively; for defence of territorial integrity.
In our country where the "haves" and "have-nots" can be easily identified in their external getup and presentation: the poor and the downtrodden are objects of psychological domination by the law enforcers of all types and shades. Their action and interaction is clearly demonstrated in their attitude, behaviour and approach; easily visible at any check-post that straddle our roads and streets. There were never such set-ups or police confrontation even in the fairly violent days of "Quit India" movement that I remember during the 1944-45 period in Calcutta. The active war front was hardly more than two hundred miles from Calcutta; as the crow flies! Firing by police invariably called for a judicial inquiry. In contrast, the law "enforcers" of today are "licensed to kill" in James Bond fashion!
What has happened now, where have we gone wrong? We never heard of "state of emergency" even during the political agitation of war years in Calcutta in mid nineteen-forties; despite the presence of the so-called hated colonial British Raj! Then it was the "Raj"; afterwards "Pakistan"; but now who are our so called opponents? It is us and us alone!
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