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Political consensus essential to ensure country's law and order

Published : Tuesday, 18 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 895
MIR MOSHARREF HOSSAIN PAKBIR
Law and order are fundamental to a stable and prosperous society. However, in Bangladesh, maintaining law and order has been increasingly difficult due to the growing influence of political activism on criminal activities. Crimes like murder, extortion, rape, and political violence are often perpetrated by supporters of various political parties, leading to widespread social unrest and a lack of public security. This political involvement in criminal actions undermines the rule of law, causing citizens to feel unsafe and eroding trust in governance. Without a unified approach to law enforcement, Bangladesh risks deepening lawlessness, which could severely impact its economy, human rights, and international reputation. Therefore, a consensus among political parties is essential to restore stability, public trust, and ensure justice is served.

Political rivalry in Bangladesh has increasingly fueled criminal activities, as party-affiliated groups resort to violence to assert dominance, suppress opposition, and control economic sectors. This politicization of crime has turned politics into a battleground where party loyalty often overrides legal and ethical considerations. In recent years, politically motivated crimes have surged, with activists engaging in violent clashes, intimidation, and vandalism. Such conflicts not only disrupt public order but also foster a broader culture of impunity. Without political consensus on upholding the rule of law, these acts of violence will continue to erode democratic values and social stability.

Political activists often target opponents, leading to frequent cases of murder. High-profile political killings create fear among citizens and destabilize society. Political killings have plagued Bangladesh's history. Leaders, activists, and journalists have fallen victim to targeted assassinations due to ideological conflicts or exposure of corruption. Many political groups engage in extortion, exploiting businesses and ordinary citizens. Political cadres frequently exploit businesses through extortion, leading to economic instability. The construction, transportation, and garment sectors have suffered from syndicates controlled by politically backed criminals who demand illegal tolls. This not only damages the economy but also weakens law enforcement agencies.
Political power often shields perpetrators of sexual violence, obstructing justice through interference in law enforcement. Activists from political organizations have been implicated in high-profile cases, with justice frequently delayed or denied. Elections in Bangladesh are marred by violence, as rival parties engage in clashes, vandalism, and intimidation, turning the democratic process into a dangerous ordeal. Protests and strikes often lead to property destruction and disrupt daily life. Student wings of political parties frequently engage in violent confrontations, resulting in fatal conflicts and fostering an atmosphere of fear.

These crimes are exacerbated by the lack of accountability, political patronage, and a weak judicial system. Political parties often provide shelter to their activists, ensuring that law enforcement agencies cannot act independently. Almost all the top terrorists are sheltered by some political parties and under their patronage crime syndicates like different teen gangs are formed. The political parties actually provide these criminals the pass to act free and fiercely. This political interference prevents justice from being served, further eroding public trust in the legal system.

Political consensus ensures independent law enforcement, reducing politically motivated crimes. It prevents police and judiciary misuse for political gain while fostering trust in democratic institutions. A commitment to an impartial judiciary restores public confidence. Stability and security attract investments, boosting economic growth. When leaders prioritize law and order over personal interests, people regain faith in governance. If parties reject criminal elements within their ranks, political protection for offenders diminishes, strengthening the country's overall law and order situation.

Several countries have tackled law and order issues through political consensus, offering lessons for Bangladesh. South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission helped transition to democracy, reducing political violence. The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland curbed terrorism by uniting opposing factions. Colombia's peace deal with FARC rebels led to reintegration programs and crime reduction. Rwanda's post-genocide inclusive policies unified rival groups, making it one of Africa's safest nations. These examples show how consensus fosters stability, strengthens law enforcement, and decreases politically motivated crimes.

Achieving political consensus in Bangladesh is hindered by deep-rooted mutual distrust among political parties, which makes cooperation challenging. Many politicians benefit from the current system of patronage and impunity, reducing their motivation to pursue meaningful reform. The law enforcement agencies are often politicized, lacking independence, and unable to act impartially. Additionally, years of political violence have eroded public trust, leaving citizens skeptical about the possibility of genuine change. These combined factors create significant barriers to establishing a stable, just, and functional political system, preventing progress toward a more peaceful and democratic society.

Achieving political consensus on law and order is challenging but not impossible. To restore law and order, political parties in Bangladesh must adopt a cooperative approach. A platform should be created where all major political parties can discuss ways to curb political violence. A neutral, independent, and professional police force is critical to addressing crime. Politicization of law enforcement results in selective justice, where criminals affiliated with ruling parties evade punishment. A political consensus is required to implement strict policies against interference in policing, ensuring that law enforcement agencies can operate with integrity and independence. Police and judicial reforms should be carried out with bipartisan support to ensure neutrality.

In Bangladesh, political parties have multiple affiliated organizations, such as students' wings, youth wings, volunteers' wings, farmers' wings, women's wings, cultural wings, and more. Thousands of activists belong to these wings, many of whom are unemployed but involved in criminal activities like extortion, syndication, and corruption. These activists often exploit their affiliations to engage in illegal practices, making it difficult for political parties to regulate their actions. The sheer number of activists and their deep entanglement in criminal enterprises presents a significant challenge for maintaining law and order. Therefore, a critical reform is needed, ensuring that political affiliations do not become a cover for criminal behavior and that these organizations operate within the bounds of the law.

The political parties can keep different sub-committees for all these areas under its main party line. Representatives from every upazila can be part of those sub-committees and they will particularly work in their assigned areas. For example; sub-committee members for students' welfare will work only to ensure students' welfare in terms of their academic priorities, members of farmers' welfare sub-committee will look after the issues of farmers' welfare and agricultural progress, members of women's welfare sub-committee will raise and solve different issues related to women's safety, growth and progression, the cultural sub-committee members will ensure the welfare of the country's cultural community as well as will spread good cultural practices etc. If this reform is not accomplished, then unfortunately, restoring law and order will be very difficult.
Political leaders must commit to denying protection to activists involved in crime and enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward violence. Guilty activists should be expelled and face legal action without political interference. Leaders must publicly condemn violence and impose strict disciplinary measures. Political parties should issue a joint declaration against political violence and ensure offenders are prosecuted. A joint task force, including representatives from major parties, civil society, and law enforcement, can monitor and prevent politically motivated crimes. This neutral body would address security concerns and propose effective solutions for maintaining law and order in the country.

Judicial institutions must remain free from political influence, with a multi-party agreement ensuring impartial justice. Fast-track courts for politically motivated crimes can expedite trials and boost public confidence. Independent media and civil society organizations should monitor and report political crimes, holding leaders accountable. Political parties must commit to protecting press freedom and supporting investigative journalism to expose corruption within their ranks. Media-led transparency initiatives can create public pressure for impartial justice, reinforcing the rule of law and deterring political interference in legal proceedings, ultimately strengthening democracy and governance in the country.

Bangladesh's political culture has long been defined by hostility between ruling and opposition parties. Without dialogue and reconciliation, tensions will continue to fuel crime. Regular forums where party leaders meet to discuss governance and law enforcement strategies can help bridge ideological gaps and foster mutual understanding. Many young political activists turn to crime due to unemployment and lack of opportunities. A bipartisan economic policy focusing on job creation and skill development can prevent young people from joining criminal groups. Investment in education and entrepreneurship programs, agreed upon by all parties, will ensure long-term social stability.

The rising crime rate in Bangladesh, especially among political activists, threatens national stability and public safety. Without political consensus, law and order will worsen, harming economic growth, foreign investment, and social harmony. Leaders must set aside differences and unite for the nation's greater good. Learning from global examples, Bangladesh can achieve a more peaceful society. A bipartisan commitment to curbing violence will restore order, strengthen democracy, and rebuild public trust. Prioritizing national security over political rivalry is essential to ensuring a safer future for all citizens in the new Bangladesh.

The writer is Chief Editor at Mohammadi News Agency (MNA) and Editor at Kishore Bangla


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