Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
A High Court (HC) bench while hearing a suo moto rule on Monday observed that the country has become a police state and the people tend to believe so. 'But that should not be the case', it said.
The HC bench comprising Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khizir Hayat, told SM Tanvir Arafat, Superintendent of Police, Kushtia, said "Performing duty through the coordination of the state organs (three organs) is a matter of skill. A police state has been established, and the general people do also have such a perception. But that should not be the case. The nation is anxious. It is your responsibility to resolve this situation. You do a lot of good work. Be skilful in your actions and not in words. Then you will succeed in your purpose."
The High Court on January 20 this year summoned the police superintendent asking him to explain his alleged misbehaviour with a senior judicial magistrate, Md Mohsin Hasan, during the Bheramara pourashava election held on January 16 last.
Complying with the court order the police superintendent appeared before the court on Monday and offered an unconditional apology for misbehaving with the magistrate and also promised that such mistake will not be repeated on his part in the future.
He apologised to the HC through an affidavit. In the affidavit, he admitted the incident of misbehaviour and regretted the incident.
In the affidavit, SP Tanvir Arafat said that he was very remorseful for the "unintentional incident", and will be more cautious while discharging his duties. Such type of mistake will never happen again, he assured the HC bench.
During the hearing the SP sought mercy from the HC bench and made a plea for exoneration.
Senior lawyer Md Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury appeared for SP Arafat and prayed to the HC bench to accept the unconditional apology of his client and pardon him.
The HC bench, however, adjourned the hearing of the rule and fixed February 17 for passing an order on the issue.
The court exonerated the police superintendent from personal appearance before it for the time being and said it will observe the activities of SP Arafat until further order.
The HC also ordered the SP to provide security to the family members of Shahjahan Ali, who acted as the presiding officer at Bheramara Pilot Model High School in Kushtia during the last municipality election.
Shahjahan Ali on January 21 told another HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim that he and his family members had security concerns.
Judicial magistrate Mohsin Hasan on January 17 submitted an application to the Election Commission, Supreme Court, home ministry and the IGP to take necessary steps against SP Tanvir Arafat, saying that the SP had misbehaved with him in violation of the Local Government Election Rules, 2010.