Now dog squads for security
THE government’s deployment of para-military Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel to patrol Chittagong and Sylhet airports with dog squad as reported in The New Nation highlights the tension in the administration to give protection to people in those international gateways and such other key installations. We fully understand the seriousness of the law and order situation and the government’s actions when cases of serious lawlessness are slipping the country out of control as extremists are killing people at their homes and at work places. It is a highly volatile situation that can’t be overlooked to mobilize all protective measures for public safety. But what makes people to ponder is whether the crisis of security; which has developed mainly in the sideline of political crisis in the country can be faced by heavy deployment of forces and dog squads ignoring the real issue. We believe and saying it again that the real political issue must be resolved to strengthen the hands of the law enforcing agencies to fight terrorism. The forces as highly politicized and isolated from the people are not enough now to give protection to the nation, as people are regularly falling victim in extremists hands.
We witnessed killing of a publisher and attempt to kill some others early this week in the city sending shock waves to the nation. Several bloggers were also killed earlier as victims of hate politics. Meanwhile targeted killing of the opposition are also running high. Even yesterday a policeman was knifed in the suburb of the city while another police van came under attack in the Brahmanbaria district, although it is none of their fault to fall victims in the hands of extremists. But extremists are hitting suddenly without warning with the specter of a bloody conflict in the horizon. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at Dhaka airport as forces are guarding it round the clock. Media reports said the government has beefed up security at Dhaka and Kashimpur jails. Police check posts have also been set up in the city highlighting the insecurity in the city to screen out miscreants. Suspicions and fear are everywhere.
There is a general fear that anybody can be arrested any time on mere suspicion. And this way the police are getting involved in government’s politics and are becoming controversial too.
Our view has always been and still is that wrong ways are deployed for ensuring security in public life. If police power were enough for peace and security then what is the justification for having a political government under political leaders. But the political process has proved to be a failure, because there is no public accountability of the government. So the government is trying to remain in power –no matter how awfully it is failing.
