DB’s unlawful detention of students
The allegations against the Detective Branch (DB) of Police about torturing illegally detained students is enough to shake the entire nation. The DB took two decisions following the pleas from the parents five days after the detention of the students. Firstly, the DB sought remand of the 12 students produced before the court. Secondly, they claimed that the students were activists of Chhatra Shibir. The law enforcement has managed to generate news of arresting such a big number of ‘Shibir activists’ after a long time. Whatever the crimes or the political identities the detainees may be, DB could not refute the allegations brought against them for illegally picking the students up, showing them arrested on Sunday, five days after their detention, and torturing them physically. Their explanations offered yesterday (Monday) in reply to the journalists, hardly seem credible.
It is becoming impossible to ascertain who are taking such decisions and why. The question is all the more significant as these actions are being committed by the law enforcement agencies.
The Supreme Court has passed several verdicts on arrest and remand in the recent years. We see the verdicts are mostly regarding police remands. We urge the judiciary to intervene before the two-day remand of the students after four days of delay becomes just another issue.
Won’t it be possible to differentiate the behaviour and mentality of an elite agency like DB from the allegation of police’s wholesale arrest ahead of upcoming general elections? It is now a matter of concern that the tendency of the law enforcement to take the law into their own hands is increasing.
TIB’s recent household survey that identifies the law enforcement as the most corrupt sector, indicates that these are no isolated incidents. It is high time for the political leadership in the public administration to come forward.
It has been clearly substantiated that accountability and transparency of the law enforcement agencies have taken a nose dive. The dark side of this is that dishonest and overly ambitious government officials can take immature but dangerous decisions, assuming they have the go-ahead from above.
There was no need to treat the students in such an unlawful cruel manner. The recommendations of a judicial commission led by late justice Habibur Rahman Khan were violated after the Independent University student Shamim Reza Rubel died in police custody. The Supreme Court later issued specific guidelines following the incident. These guidelines have also been violated in every incident.
The DB revealed certain information to the media after an ‘interrogation’ of the students. Why could they not gather such information in a regular manner?
Actions must be taken against those who are unnecessarily spreading fear. The government's reputation is at stake.