Swapna Chakranarty of DOT
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed grave concern and disappointment over the allegations brought against a section of police for diverting the investigation, torture in custody and failing to protect the victims’ families and witnesses in some recent sensational incidents in the country.
Issuing a media release, the organisation said that the credibility of the local police has been questioned following the allegations raised by Minni’ father that police in collusion with an influential quarter forced her to give the confessional statement.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said it is an ominous sign for the country’s rule of law that a section of the police allegedly harassed Nusrat and extracting fake confessional statement through torture from a fifth grader who was raped in Cox’s Bazar Model Police Station.
Therefore, a judicial inquiry should be launched into the allegations of power abuse to ensure accountability of the law enforcing agencies.
There is no scope to take the incidents as isolated ones and wholesale denial. Therefore, it will be not be justified to confine the incidents to ‘departmental actions’.
Objective, impartial and reliable inquiry will help retain the reputation and dignity of the police department. Therefore, judicial inquiry is essential to bring the force under transparency and accountability.
Translated by Imrul Hossain