Muhammad Nurul Huda

The disgraceful spectacle of four law enforcement officials being apprehended for committing crimes like abduction, demanding ransom and rape have shaken public confidence to its core.

Ensuring good governance through socially desirable law enforcement would demand that needed police reforms keep pace with the social changes and the emerging concept of social justice and egalitarian society.

As the Police Week 2019 commences today, it seems like an opportune moment to compile the thoughts of citizens on what they expect from their police force.

One can justifiably expect a lot from our newly inducted finance minister, for he is a chartered accountant by training, a seasoned politician with the experience of holding important public offices

The prime minister's call to party-men and supporters to remain calm and exercise restraint after assuming office for the third consecutive term strikes well with the ethos of a responsible democratic polity.

The staggering number of nomination seekers, more than 4,000 for the 300 seats in the National Parliament, from the two major political parties that have ruled the country for the better part of our independent existence, gives rise to hope and concern.

This newspaper on July 9, 2011 editorially commented that when state agencies step out of their defined terms of reference, the resultant sociopolitical scenario becomes dismal.

The president of Bangladesh, while addressing the 51st convocation of Dhaka University, has implored to leave politics to politicians.

Memories of the recent past, of school children campaigning to bring sanity and discipline on our roads, particularly in the capital city, are still fresh in the public mind.

The news of the unexpected passing away of Justice Kamrul Islam Siddiqui last week was a huge shock to me and many of his colleagues, friends and acquaintances.

The recently published Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) survey report 2017 says that law enforcement agencies were the most corrupt among 18 departments and sectors involved in providing services to households.

As the nation prepares to solemnly remember the gory happenings of August 15, 1975 when the emancipator of Bangalis was brutally assassinated along with most of his family members, it is only proper that the post-liberation generations, particularly the younger segment amongst them, get to know the real dimension of the towering Bangabandhu.

Readers may recall the very mischievously poignant slogan of deviant students of yesteryears who were bent upon adopting unfair means to pass public examinations.

To this writer the expression “extra-judicial killing” is an apt illustration of the term “oxymoron”— that is, words put together which contradict each other. The expression has most likely been coined by journalists, and perhaps social scientists and rights activists, and curiously is not found in the legal lexicon. One could ask if there is actually anything like a judicial killing and if not, how could there be sense or meaning in the expression “extra-judicial killing”?

Multiple deaths occurr-ing during the ongoing anti-narcotics operations have given rise to sharp reactions. While some quarters feel that the government of the day has seized of the gravity of the drug menace, others take a very critical view by saying that the authorities have indulged in rambling actions without seriously venturing to grasp the root of the malaise and adequately punish the masterminds. Some critics would doubt the very credibility of the

The recent demonstra-tions by students demanding an end to the existing Bangladesh Civil Service quota system in the recruitment process deserve urgent attention of the government. The rationale for the introduction of the quota system had its roots in the policy for recruitment to public service that was adopted in September 1972.

Recent events relating to the serious wrongdoings of law enforcers may prompt the wary public to conclude that the misdeeds and gross dereliction of duties by our policemen have become a pathetic, recurrent reality and that nothing much can be done to change the situation.

It was quite surprising to read the report that some senior police officers had proposed the suspension of their regulatory powers of

January 8 marks the beginning of the Police Week 2018. Like previous years, there would be solemn exhortations to enforce the law impartially and protect human rights in public interest.

There could be no two opinions on the significance of responsible law enforcement in a democratic polity.