Last week a group of students blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and caused serious damage to several vehicles to protest the death of a fellow student in a road accident. Unfortunately, these types of incidents of vandalism and destruction of property of innocent bystanders has become the norm in Bangladesh and this culture of wanton disregard for the damages and suffering of others needs to end immediately.
The protesting students torched at least three vehicles and vandalised 10-12 other vehicles on the highway. The blockade of the highway caused a 30km long tailback on both sides of the highway, causing undue delay and suffering to the commuters.
While the students’ grievance might be legitimate, their method of seeking justice by inflicting damage on innocent passersby is anything but acceptable. This type of mindset of taking the law into your own hands just to express your anger is not only juvenile, it also amplifies the original harm by creating new victims.
As it creates a culture of undermining the rule of law, it is also deeply harmful to the fabric of society in the long run.
As a nation we need to wholeheartedly reject the notion that it is acceptable to commit violence against innocent passers-by when we feel aggrieved. Strict punitive measures need to be taken against those who seek to perpetuate this culture of retribution and violence.