The Baton Is Broken: A New Era for Law Enforcement

The Adviser for Shipping, Labour, and Employment, Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M. Sakhawat Hussain, has declared a paradigm shift in the conduct of the Bangladesh Police. Speaking at a consultative meeting on the upcoming national referendum held at the Mirza Ruhul Amin Auditorium in Thakurgaon on Wednesday, the Adviser emphasised that the days of police brutality and summary shootings have been consigned to history.

A New Era of Policing

Dr Sakhawat addressed the public’s perception of law enforcement, stating that the current interim administration has strictly prohibited the use of batons (danda) and firearms against civilians. “We do not allow such actions anymore,” he remarked. “Our vision is for a humanitarian police force. I urge the citizenry to cooperate with the officers and accord them the respect they deserve as they transition into this new role.”

The Adviser reflected solemnly on the violence of July and August 2024, recalling the horrific images of youth casualties being piled onto vans—an era he described as “ghastly” and a source of national shame. He warned that unless structural reforms are entrenched through the upcoming referendum, the country risks sliding back into such instability.

Interim Government Reform Agenda & Referendum

The Referendum and the ‘Yes’ Vote

Addressing the political climate surrounding the referendum, Dr Sakhawat responded to reports of the Jatiya Party advocating for a ‘No’ vote. He suggested that such stances would be judged by the electorate at the ballot box. “The people are the owners of the vote,” he noted, “but if you fail to cast a ‘Yes’ vote, you will miss a century-level opportunity for change.”

He asserted that the interim government, having been in power for eighteen months, remains motivated by qualitative change rather than the allure of authority. The goal, he explained, is to ensure that no future leader can abuse power or act with the impunity of a “Hercules”—a reference to extrajudicial vigilante figures from previous years.

Economic Progress and Mafia Networks

Dr Sakhawat invited the audience to compare the present state of the nation with the previous regime. He claimed that the “Mafia” structures and market syndicates that once dictated the cost of living have been broken. He cited the recent month of Ramadan as a success story, where rigorous surveillance and administrative raids prevented the customary price hikes of essential commodities.

The meeting was chaired by Arafat Rahman, Deputy Director of Local Government (DDLG) in Thakurgaon, and attended by senior officials and members of civil society. Following the discussion, Dr Sakhawat departed for Nilphamari at 3:30 PM.