Phantom culprits, phantom cases
Multiple newspapers have recently reported how the police have filed cases against opposition activists who were in hospital or abroad or deceased when the alleged offences took place. In many instances, the descriptions of these cases were found to be a product of imagination, while cases were also filed in advance, anticipating anti-government rallies. This should worry everyone who believes in rule of law.
According to reports, the police file cases against those selected from an already prepared list of opposition activists—many of whom are out of the country, or are no longer active in politics, or are deceased—particularly just before or after politically related events such as election or protest rallies.
For example, according to a recent police case statement, BNP's Chawkbazar Thana convenor threw brickbats and blasted cocktail on September 5, nearly 28 months after he had died. How could a dead man blast bombs?
According to another case statement, Ahad Khalifa, a neighbour of a former BNP MP, held a secret meeting in Comilla with dozens others to vandalise vehicles on the highway, while actually being 3,500km away, in Oman, since February. Kazi Saiyedul Alam, Gazipur BNP secretary, was implicated in a case for vandalising vehicles on September 10, when he was actually in Singapore for his son's treatment. The police statements seem to be defying the fundamental laws of physics.
The authorities must move immediately to arrest this malpractice for, apart from being ridiculous, this will sap the credibility of the police and erode public faith in the system.
Comments