How long will helpless be tortured in name of loans

Although interest and loans are considered one of the main driving forces of the economy, many religions and legal systems have prohibited them since ancient times. This is because loans and interest increase social inequality. The moneylender never takes any risk of loss; rather, he always ensures profit by exploiting the helplessness of poor people. As a result, the poor become poorer and the riches become richer. And for this, helpless people often fall victim to tragic inhumanity.

A similar incident came to light on Tuesday (7 October)—an elderly man was tied to a post and tortured in Cumilla for failing to repay a loan. The victim’s name is Ali Akbar (70). Police have arrested one person named Borhan Uddin in connection with the incident.

According to available information, the incident took place last Monday morning in Rasulpur village of Chandina upazila. Eyewitnesses said that the elderly man was tied to an electric pole from 8:30 am to 11:00 am—almost two and a half hours. Later yesterday afternoon, photos of the torture on the old man spread across social media. Talking to police and local residents revealed that Abul Kalam and his son Borhan Uddin of Rasulpur village had long been involved in the moneylending business. Akbar had borrowed Tk 70,000 from Borhan two years ago to send his son abroad. Borhan demanded Tk 1.5 lakh including interest. As Akbar failed to repay the money, he was caught and tied to an electric pole yesterday morning and tortured. Later, when he fell ill, locals rescued him and took him to the upazila health complex.

Ali Akbar’s son, Ibrahim Khalil, said his father had asked for some time to repay the money. But Borhan did not allow that and subjected his father to inhuman torture. Khalil questioned whom they should go to for justice in such an incident. After the photos of the torture spread on social media, Chandina police arrested Borhan.

The first question is, how can the interest rate be more than double? A Tk 70,000 loan turning into Tk 150,000 is an inhuman demand. Even if someone in distress unknowingly agrees to such a high interest rate, it is the lender who should first be held accountable.

The second question is, how could a 70-year-old man be tied to a pole for two and a half hours in public for failing to repay a loan? What kind of inhumanity is this? It is nothing short of medieval barbarism. Was there not a single person nearby who could have freed the elderly man? This is a sign of a morally degraded society.

If such inhuman acts over loans and interest still continue in our society today, it must be said that our social and state systems remain deeply backward. We want to tell the government that without true education and enforcement of law, this society and state will never become civilised. The state must pay the price for this violation of human dignity.