Rokan's Journal

-Brig Gen (Retd) HRM Rokan Uddin, psc. phD

Over the past sixteen years, Bangladesh witnessed countless incidents of unspeakable brutality under a tyrannical regime that ruled through fear, partisan violence, and systemic impunity. Among those tragedies, one incident still burns in the memory of the nation: the brutal killing of Biswajeet Das, a humble tailor, in broad daylight on December 9, 2012, in the heart of Dhaka.

Biswajeet was not a politician, not even a protester—he was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Dressed in a white panjabi and lungi, he became the unfortunate target of a political frenzy. As cameras captured every moment and passersby watched in terror, armed members of the ruling party’s student wing, Chhatra League, pounced on him like wild beasts. They beat him relentlessly with iron rods, sharp weapons, and wooden logs, until he collapsed and died on the pavement. They did not flee—they walked away with arrogance and defiance. That day, it wasn’t just a man who was killed; a part of our national conscience died too. Yet, no effective action was taken against those responsible.

We also remember the horrific events of 28th October 2006, when the then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina openly called upon her party workers to take to the streets with logi-boita—sticks and oars. That day, several opposition activists were killed in the Farmgate and Dhaka University areas. Some of the attackers were seen dancing over the corpses of their political opponents. Still, no justice was delivered. When the 1/11 military-backed caretaker government arrived, many expected a cleansing of the system. But that expectation, too, was crushed by bureaucratic hesitancy and political compromise.

Then came July 2024—a turning point. The people rose up in revolt against fascism, corruption, electoral fraud, and the wholesale erosion of national dignity. It was not a mere regime change—it was the second independence movement of Bangladesh. The people dreamt of a new dawn, a society where justice would prevail, and human life would once again have value.

But as the months passed, the dream began to fade. National unity, once the spirit of the revolution, started to fracture. It didn’t take long for India’s notorious external intelligence agency, RAW, to skillfully inject division among political forces and civil society. Today, disunity, distrust, and confusion are once again becoming the dominant forces in national life.

Following the revolution, mobocracy has returned in new forms, even under the interim government. Yes, we are human—yes, we have anger against criminals—but we are also a nation in the 21st century. We cannot afford to behave like savages in a civilized world. No matter how severe the crime is, the only acceptable path is the rule of law. No mob has the right to execute justice in the streets. That is the job of the state.

Yet on 9th July 2025, we witnessed another horrifying scene. A small businessman named Shohag was stoned to death in front of Mitford Hospital in Dhaka, in broad daylight. He was hit repeatedly with stones until he died—and then, in an unbearable scene of inhumanity, the attackers were seen dancing on his dead body. The entire nation watched in horror. There were no police present. No intervention. Just silence.

Where are we headed as a nation? Why has the government failed to restore law and order even after assuming power with such overwhelming support? Many citizens now question: is the Chief Adviser hesitant to act decisively out of fear that strong measures may damage his Nobel Prize image? If that is the case, then we must ask—what values the Nobel Prize hold when ordinary citizens are not safe in their own country?

When a state fails to protect its people, it begins to lose its legitimacy. Security and justice are not optional, they are foundational. In the case of Shohag’s murder, video footage clearly identifies the culprits. They must be arrested immediately, tried in fast-track courts, and publicly hanged, if necessary, as a deterrent to others. This is not vengeance, it is justice.

If the law stands in the way of justice, then the law must be changed—and it can be done through executive order. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary decisions.

The Inspector General of Police has stated that the Police force is still in trauma and unable to perform properly. That is an unacceptable excuse. If the current police force cannot ensure public safety, they should be dismissed. Bangladesh has thousands of capable young men and women ready to serve. With a fast-tracked recruitment and training program, a new force can be deployed within 4 to 5 months.

Furthermore, there are over 50,000 retired members of the armed forces who are under the age of 50, physically fit, well-trained, and disciplined. A readymade workforce. They can be inducted into the police on a two-year contract, giving the state immediate operational capability without additional burden.

Political parties must also take responsibility. Instead of targeting each other and engaging in destructive power games, each party must discipline its ranks, expel the criminals, and hand them over to law enforcement. A political party that shelters killers becomes morally complicit in their crimes.

Law enforcement agencies must become alert, proactive, and accountable. Any member unable or unwilling to serve should step aside immediately. The Army, which has been given magistracy powers for the first time in history, must rise to the occasion. The people expect results. The Army must act neutrally, without any political or bureaucratic interference, and in coordination with intelligence agencies to ensure the safety of the people. Since there is some bad smell in the uniform due to last regime’s misuse of Army, there will be some criticism but Army should do the right ting for the safety of the people and country.

No excuse is acceptable. Not from political leaders. Not from ministries. Not from the police or the army. National security must be treated as the number one priority. A year has passed since the revolution, yet the government’s soft approach to urgent issues is dragging the country into uncertainty once again.

The blood of the July revolution was not shed to return to fear, lawlessness, and public lynching. The people demanded—and deserve—a nation built on justice, safety, and order. The time to act is now.

Let this not be another chapter in a long book of betrayal. Let it be the beginning of accountability, responsibility, and the restoration of law in a land that has suffered too much, for far too long.