Culture of impunity is to blame

Nilratan Halder | Published: April 24, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The beginning of a depressing but highly representative song of the time sung by an artiste of Paschimbango is 'E kon sakal ja rater cheyo andhakar' (What a dreadful morning is this/one that's darker than night). After the systematic molestation of girls and women at the Dhaka University's (DU's) TSC (teacher-student centre) intersection and the entry point of Suhrwardy Udyan, one is forced to go for similar introspection if the Bangla Nabobarsho (New Year) could have a more inauspicious beginning!
After three months of political horror sweeping all across the length and breadth of the country, it was the first day to have been left alone. There was no hartal (general strike), no blockade. Naturally, people from all walks of life broke free from the stifling fear psychosis to grab the opportunity of celebrating the Pahela Baishakh.
As has been the case for some years now, all roads led to the Ramna Park, the Suhrawardy Udyan and the surrounding areas. This is despite the fact that there has been some attempt to disperse the venues to different areas of the city in order to limit the rush. But who could imagine that the ugly hands of sex perverts would turn the euphoria into a national disgrace and shame!
This was not totally beyond apprehension, though. A few years ago a girl named Badhan was subjected to similar humiliation almost at the same place. Even the Ekushey book fair was made to suffer disgrace earlier when a few minute's failure of electricity supply there brought out the beast in some youths. Their sexual assault on that day left a number of girls and women in tears, physically humiliated and mentally devastated.
Wherever there is a thick crowd, there is also a chance of crimes from the petty to the most heinous. With time, arrangement of more elaborate security is required.
The bomb attack on Chhayanaut's Pahela Baishakh programme is a case in point. So, the law enforcement agency was not unprepared as well. According to its own version, it took all kinds of measures in order to provide security to the public celebrating the Bangla New Year. There were close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras focusing right on the spot where the nation's festive mood was turned into sadness and shame.
Then something vital was missing. First, it was denial for long four days and then there was and still is an attempt to hide something very important. When the police take four days to admit that sexual assault did indeed take place, the whole episode betrays insincerity on their part to get into action.
Video footages have detected an organised gang of youths led by a few bearded ones. But after more than a week no culprit could be arrested. Why?
There are more unanswered questions than one. Litton Nandi, president of the Basngladesh Chhatra Union of the DU chapter could well realise that there was a gang active in harassing and assaulting girls and women in a planned manner.
Why did the man in uniform responsible for monitoring the video footage fail to recognise this simple development? Even the Chhatra Union president pleaded with the police to reinforce their contingent and restore order there.
But his pleas fell on deaf ears. He along with his comrades fought against the sexual predators to rescue girls and women and at one point caught two of the brutes and handed them over to the police. But the cops let them go. Why?
Finally, as reports have it, the footage of the number 16 CCTV camera is yet to be made available to the public for viewing. Many suspect that its strategic placement was important to show how a girl was disrobed.
The authorities have consistently denied any such things have ever happened. But Litton claims he gave his punjabi to cover a girl up, which was later returned to him. Why is the video footage of that camera not shown? Is there any chance of getting identities of some youths exposed whom some powerful quarters are intent on protecting? Â
There is no plausible explanation for such a hide-and-seek game the administration is playing. Now the question is if this is recognised as an act of crime at all. Some of the men holding high positions in the university administration and elsewhere are reported to have made statement to the effect that there was no need for girls to go to the venue after sunset.
Any crime happens in mind so does its prevention too. Protection of criminals - no matter what their social standing is -simply is a negation of the rule of law. Impunity dished out on partisan consideration has now turned out to be something of a culture in this land. Evidently, it is exacting a heavy price from society.
The New Year's celebration in Bangladesh is synonymous with the nurture of its rich vein of culture and tradition. If coteries inimical to the cause of flourishing Bangaleeness are out to undo such occasions, there is nothing to be surprised.
But when the administration claiming itself to be the preserver and protector of the quintessential Bangaleeness continue foot-dragging in bringing the culprits to book, suspicion of an ulterior motive lurks in people's minds. Before such a dark apprehension takes hold, let it be swept away by a well-meaning decisive action.
nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com