Even since Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5, the interim government has had its hands full with regard to rebuilding the nation. While it has mostly done an exemplary job, one area of concern that has been brought forward is the lack of due diligence in our law enforcement.
Cases and arrests have been done indiscriminately against hundreds of individuals from all walks of life, and such actions have done the nation little favours in projecting a sense of control to the rest of the world. To that end, the recent directive instructing law enforcement agencies to not arrest government officials and workers without concrete evidence in cases related to the student movement comes at an important time and marks a significant step towards ensuring the rule of law in Bangladesh.
That the decision came during the very first meeting of the newly formed law and order advisory council is once again proof that the interim government continues to do right by the people, and is paying attention to the issues that persist in the country. The rule of law is foundational to any democratic society and ensures that justice is administered without bias.
This is also not merely about preventing arbitrary arrests but cultivating a culture of respect for legal processes and a commitment to uphold these values. In a nation striving to rebuild and recover from various challenges, it is essential to foster an environment where due diligence is followed.
Arbitrary arrests and cases along with law enforcement using fear as a tactic should collectively be dismissed as a relic of the previous administration and ought not to perpetuate in this new, democratic Bangladesh we intend to build.
