Stop violence of extortionists

The news is not only tragic but a matter of national shame. According to a report published in the media on Thursday (May 15), a Swechchhasebak Dal leader allegedly took away the cow of a housewife named Nargis Begum (25) at Rajapur upazila in Jhalokathi, because she couldn’t pay “extortion money”. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the cow was taken from a field in Ghighra village of Shuktagor union.

The accused, Bellal Khan (58), is a resident of Baman Khan village in the same union and the son of Aziz Khan. He is reportedly a supporter of Abul Kalam Azad, president of the Rajapur upazila unit of BNP.

Bellal Khan, however, claims that the cow was not taken for extortion money, but in lieu of a debt of Tk 20,000 owed by Nargis's husband. He stated that he would return the cow once the money was paid.

According to the report, the victim, Nargis Begum, is the wife of Abu Bakr from Ghighra village in Shuktagar union. Abu Bakr has been in hiding since August 5 of last year due to his involvement with the Awami League politics. In an attempt to retrieve the cow, on Thursday morning, Nargis appeared in front of the court premises in Jhalokathi with the calf. Along with her was her young child. As the calf longed desperately for its mother, the child cried alongside it.

Now, picture this scene: a housewife standing with a calf and a crying child for the cow which in the absence of her husband is her only source of sustenance. Even if, as the accused claims, her husband owes him money, does that justify taking away his wife’s cow while he is in hiding? Doesn’t a person possess at least a basic sense of humanity? Where has that humanity gone?

It has been reported that the accused is an active member of the local Swechchhasebak Dal. Does party affiliation now embolden individuals to such inhumane behaviour?

After the mass uprising, more such allegations have surfaced — that individuals who were involved in Awami League politics, or were associated with it in any way, are having their property seized by activists of various political parties. Was this the essence of the mass uprising? We had hoped that in its aftermath, social injustice and disorder would decrease, and an egalitarian society would emerge. So why this anarchy? It goes without saying that such incidents are happening due to the negligence of law enforcement agencies. At the same time, certain political parties seem to believe that they now hold all power, and are therefore doing whatever they please. The arbitrary action of the Swechchhasebak Dal is a proof of this.

We want such inhumane lawlessness to be eradicated from society. Let the basic sense of humanity remain intact. Let people show natural human respect toward one another. We urge the authorities to promptly return Nargis's cow and to bring the accused to justice. In the name of extortion, he has not only acted outside the law but has also caused social humiliation. Such a disgraceful act cannot, under any circumstances, be viewed with leniency.