Editor's Pick

An apology to our shooters

12 October 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
M. Sanaul Huq, Uttara, Dhaka
I apologise to our national pride, shooter Atique who brought laurel to our poor sports heritage and also to his colleagues who were beaten, humiliated by the police. I was a thousand miles away from Dhaka in a neighbouring country when this atrocity was meted out to them. I was glancing at the national dailies to keep me updated with the developments in our political arena tangled in the elusive dialogue. I was not only shocked but also felt guilty at the inhuman act of policemen, the community with whom I served for 28 years. I talked to my wife in the country to know the real situation. She wept for the boys whom she never met or knew. On return to my beloved metropolis, I was seriously admonished by one of my friends for the mischief of my ex-colleagues, though he very well knows that I retired from police service five years back.

I read the piled up newspapers and found that the DMP police commissioner, and even the state minister, defended the police officers.

I on my behalf as a retired police officer and on behalf of many other shocked sympathisers offer apology to our national shooters. Boys! you have brought honour to the nation and we hapless citizens could not even protect you from the batons which we purchased with taxpayers' money. This is not your shame, rather it is a shame to the nation. We share it with you as we have shared your glory.

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Once again there was an incident created by our heroic (!) policemen. This time they pounced on our national shooters, due to whom Bangladesh at least have a chance to win a medal or two. Why did they do this? Because one of their bosses' driver was refused parking. There are lots of bosses, IG, DIGs, etc and I wonder whether they have any real work to do. They do not go after Kangali Zakir and get Sgt. Ahad (I salute this man, who gave his life for performing his duty) killed, but they are very good at attacking innocent people with all their vigour. They do not regret the misdeeds of their fellows, rather they provide strong cover to them. When this will change? How many policemen feel ashamed at their fellow members' misdeeds?

I think we should socially boycott these kind people who abuse power.

Parvez Monon Ashraf, Dallas, Texas, USA

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They already had the dubious record of beating up or shooting to death a variety of people--farmers, students, garment workers photo journalists and so on. Yet the butcher's bill had some lacunae. Perhaps, it is the reason why they swooped on the innocuous shooters.

May be those valiant law enforcers resorted to a beating-frenzy to give the sportsmen a lesson or two about shooting. Whereas the players shoot at the dumb bull's eye, those members of that state-machinery shoot to kill or at least to maim a person for his whole life. In other words, the sportsmen had put the whole act of shooting into ignominy! Certainly, shooting is not a child's play. Nor is a rifle a plaything to be used to amuse the spectators. As a result those protectors of citizens wanted to put things right. After all, some of them are licensed to kill!

The spectre of Jaliwanwalabagh still haunts this part of this world. Otherwise, how come those so -called law enforcers treat the civilians in such a bestial manner?

Zabed Wali, Pahartoli, Chittagong
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