Behind the pre-eminence of bureaucrats
The question is one of making the bureaucracy more responsible and responsive.
Mechanisms to hold the police accountable do exist; why aren't we using them?
It is imperative to bring the police under a system of accountability that earns public confidence.
The invisible struggles of constables
Historically speaking, repression was the dominant feature of colonial policing, at least between 1930 and the Partition in 1947, and one cannot be certain if the attitude of the ruling establishments in the subcontinent has significantly changed insofar as the use of police powers is concerned.
The Mountbatten factor in India’s partition
It can be said without any fear of contradiction that one of history’s most massive displacements of population with the attendant violence and misery took place when,
The case against SP Babul Akter
The complainant is now complained against.
Bigotry has no place in a civilised society
In an article published on April 4, 2015, I wrote that “Attacks on Hindus and their property have demonstrated the immensely sad but blunt reality that even after 42 years of democratic pluralistic existence, the religious minority of Bangladesh have not been able to save themselves” (The Daily Star).
Police recruitment must be fair and transparent
Recently, there have been news reports highlighting serious irregularities in the recruitment of constables in the district of Narayanganj.
Cleaning up our police force is critical
The malfeasance and misfeasance of some errant police officials in the recent past—which brought into sharp focus their worrisome delinquency—has perhaps prompted the Inspector General of Police to initiate a process of cleaning that apparently aims to rid the police of bad apples.
Remembering Professor Syed Saleheen Qadri
In the throes of struggling with the Covid-19 scourge, Bangladesh has unfortunately lost many of her illustrious sons in the not-too-distant past.
The sinister carnage of August 21, 2004
In the unfortunate annals of our political history, the month of August perhaps witnessed more macabre incidents than others.
74 Years Since Partition: Sectarian obstinacy and the Partition of 1947
For a significant number of people, including those who had ventured to understand the causes of the historic Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947,
What Ails Democracy?
There is a well-grounded belief that irrespective of the state of socio-economic progress, democracy as a form of government has not been able to take firm root in many societies.
The world’s most blighted minority
As the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority numbering nearly 1.2 million stranded in Bangladesh crosses the third painful year, one is reminded of the most blighted ethnic minority in Asia.
We must do more to deter custodial violence
The conviction of three police officers working in one of the police stations of Dhaka metropolitan area for a custodial death that occurred years ago should be a shining example in an otherwise murky environment.
Policing the police
Following the death of Major Sinha in circumstances indicative of collusive criminal behaviour of some apparently errant police personnel along with other delinquencies of lawmen elsewhere in the country, well-meaning citizens have expressed their apprehensions about control and accountability of our police or the lack of it.
How do we solve the image crisis for police?
Reports in the print and electronic media indicate that the image of police in public eyes has been worryingly tainted following the death of Major Sinha under circumstances pointing to the criminal collusive actions of some errant policemen, in addition to other serious infractions of policemen elsewhere in the country.
