Police brutality on the poor

The day was 28 June, 2004. I was going to Nilkhet along the footpath of Sonargaon Road running beside Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall. On the way, I caught a glimpse of two young rickshaw pullers playing Ludu sitting under a tree on the footpath. They took this opportunity to allay the fatigue resulting from hard work under the scorching sun. They were having immense pleasure from it.

I passed over them in silence, looked at them and shared their delights. But when I returned, I found 4 policemen surrounding them and charging why they were playing. The victims begged mercy and promised not to do so any more. But the police gave no ear to their words. Rather they started torturing them physically. Finally they arrested and taken to a police station. All these happened right before my eyes. I had nothing to do but to observe the whole scene like a tongue-tied onlooker. My question to the authorities: what was wrong with them playing Ludu? What crime did they commit? I can firmly say the answer will be "no". If it is so, then why were they arrested and why they faced physical torture?

Thus, many people of the lower echelon are perpetually oppressed by the police across the country, and it is extreme in Dhaka city without any sensible cause. They adopted this way of harassment simply to make money in an unfair way.

I want to draw the attention of the authorities through my letter so that they take necessary steps to stop such police brutality on the innocent poor.