An illogical demand

Under no circumstances should torture be considered as acceptable. It has been argued and established quit clearly that it never produces any good results even when conducted by counterterrorism experts or any other special forces. Why do the police then want the law against custodial torture to be scrapped?

For what reason do police need to practice torture on civilians? Is it not the responsibility of the police to protect and serve the citizens in a friendly way, rather than be a force of intimidation? Already it is of concern that people at large are so reluctant to seek the help of police in fear of various forms of harassments and other reasons.

What is needed is for the police to act in a more friendly way with the citizens that they are supposed to protect. Not seek powers that would instil more fear in them. Our police need to be trained to be more helpful to the public. They should learn how to deal with people better in a way where people will feel confident and secure in interacting with them.

Right now we have a massive gap in communication between the police and citizens. While the police often look down at the average person with disdain, we have citizens looking at the police with distrust. This does not produce a healthy environment for either group. We strictly believe that not only should the police's latest request be rejected, but that the police themselves will refrain from making such ludicrous demands in the first place through the understanding that it is their duty to ease the sufferings of the public, not to inflict it themselves.

Tanvir

Dhaka