DOT Desk: We are appalled by the flagrant lack of common sense displayed by a member of parliament during a rally held in Chittagong — MP Mustafizur Rahaman Chowdhury was seen brandishing a gun in a rally protesting a death threat issued against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by a BNP leader, reports Dhaka Tribune.
If the gun was loaded, the MP clearly failed to show respect for the safety of the public, but even if it was not it we feel compelled to ask: What message did the MP intend to send with this move? And considering that the BNP leader in question has already had two cases filed against him for his death threat, what was the point of the rally to begin with?
Regardless of motives, that a government official would not think twice before arming himself for a procession is emblematic of the kind of impunity that some of our more unscrupulous public servants often feel entitled to. It is no big secret that corruption and administrative irregularities have held back Bangladesh from achieving its national goals.
Too often, we find our public servants showing blatant disregard towards their jobs and responsibilities, who are guided instead by the culture of impunity and corruption that has all but defined our public sector.
While it is good to know that the matter is being probed with the Chittagong police looking into the incident, it matters little whether the gun was legal or illegal — a government official openly carrying a firearm is enough of a prospect to investigate the matter.
However, the fact that there are ruling party leaders who are calling out the MP for this incident makes us hope that there are still reasonable voices within our administrative ranks.
There are no two ways about it: This is irresponsible and ill-conceived behaviour on the part of someone who is supposed to serve the people. We should expect far more from our public servants.