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A uniform law enforcement agency is a must

Md. Shahabuddin Kabir
EOPLE sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." George Orwell Dr. Smith, professor of Political Science at Harvard University, was once asked: "Why is Bashar Al-Asaad so barbaric?" The professor laughed and said: "He is linguistically deficient and lacks sufficient vocabulary of society." Professor Smith's joke highlights that when a person is far away from society, he cannot fit into that society because it is difficult for him to adapt to that culture.
Every criminal has a history that shapes his interactions with society. There are many types of criminals in the same society. Each has a different character and is a separate challenge for peacekeepers. All criminals have a hidden wish to be part of normal society. Herein lies the bigger challenge because it is unethical to do away with criminals instead of rehabilitating them. This is exactly what Bangladesh police have been doing over decades.
There has been much debate over abolition, separation or reformation of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab). What are the commonly offered prescriptions for the Rab? Some security experts suggest that it is time
to separate Rab from police and make it a totally independent elite force under the home ministry. They think officers of the armed forces, when deputed to the Rab, may become corrupt. Therefore, they recommend that the hotchpotch of personnel deputed from different forces be done away with and an elite force consisting of members of the armed forces installed.
On the other hand, some legal experts suggest that Rab should be reformed. It must start with the formulation of separate law for the elite force where there has to be specific provision of punishment for Rab personnel who get derailed from the path of law. They also think that this elite force should not be used for any other purposes except the specific ones it has been formed for.
The call for change in Rab has come to the fore after the Narayanganj seven-murder case in which three top Rab officials are alleged to have been involved. Soon after the Narayanganj incident, allegations of forced disappearance, abduction and murder by torture in Rab custody were mushrooming from all around the country. As a result, a few other cases were lodged against Rab men by different quarters at different police stations. This sudden explosion of allegations made by all and sundry showed that there was pent-up wrath against this
elite force but the people could hardly dare to ventilate their anger and grief due to fear. The Narayanganj incident provided an opportunity to raise their voices. All these things bear testimony that all is not well in Rab. Then where does the problem lie?
Crime is by and large not a military matter, rather a social disease which needs to be addressed socially and in civil manner keeping full faith and confidence in our existing criminal justice system. We know how difficult it is to prove the accused guilty. As per Articles 31 and 35 of our Constitution, even a criminal has 'the right to protection of law' and 'protection in respect of trial and punishment.' It is a test of patience for a lawman to stick to the case, investigate it and have the accused convicted. Only a trained professional who is well oriented with the law and equipped with the necessary tools and techniques of the judicial system can have the required patience to finish the long journey to judgment. Therefore, curbing crime is not a matter of might, but a proper knowledge of law and its right application since crime means violation of law.
When a new organisation is formed to address issues that are already within the jurisdiction of other departments, then conflict is inevitable. Therefore, a uniform law enforcement agency is a must to curb
crime and control law and order. Police has to be the central law enforcement agency under which there could be many separate units invested with different tasks. This is happening with the creation of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) modeled after FBI in USA for investigation, Counter Terrorism Unit, Naval Police, Tourist Police, highly trained SWAT team, Special Protection Unit and so on.
It is true that a few in the police department are corrupt, but none from other professions can guarantee that they can stay free from corruption when there are ample opportunities. It is also proved that none can remain free from pervasive political influence. Police service is unique in the sense that it ties up military attitude with civil temperament. There is a saying that there is nothing that police cannot do, it is just that they are not allowed to. Let the lawmen do their job. If they are not capable, bolster them, give them support, and do what is necessary to enable them to perform their duties to the best of their ability. But if the policy makers feel that the police are not capable enough they can form an independent elite force under the home ministry.
The writer is an analyst of issues regarding crime. E-mail: mskabir30@gmail.com