Take action against arbitration cruelty

Arbitration adjudication is a symbol of an ancient society that still exists in Bangladesh. While many social issues may be resolved through arbitration meeting, it never establishes the rule of law. More importantly, arbitration decisions almost always favour the powerful. Even more alarming is that arbitration proceedings often turn into violence and murder. A recent example of this was seen in the Hathazari upazila of Chattogram. According to information published in the media today (3 August), a father was allegedly beaten to death during a arbitration meeting convened over the 'abduction and marriage' of his teenage daughter in Chattogram.

According to the details, an eighth-grade student (14) was returning home from school in Hathazari, Chattogram. She was abducted and forcibly married. To resolve the matter, an arbitration meeting was called on Friday night, during which the girl’s father was beaten to death. The incident occurred in the Sandwip Colony under Ward 1 of Chattogram City Corporation, under the jurisdiction of Hathazari police station. Police say it is not yet confirmed whether he was beaten to death. They heard there was an uproar at the arbitration meeting. The cause of death will be known once the autopsy report is received.

If the matter had been reported to the police immediately instead of convening an arbitration meeting, the murder might not have occurred. And how could an arbitration meeting be held over such an incident without informing the police? The boy should have been arrested immediately for abducting a minor. This reflects not only the carelessness of the girl’s family but also the unlawful actions of those who participated in the arbitration meeting. Each of them must be brought under the law.

According to police sources, the teenage girl was rescued from Noakhali and handed over to her family. But now it is imperative that justice is properly served in the cases of abduction and murder. Care must be taken to ensure that the perpetrators do not escape punishment under any circumstances. This incident has not only claimed a life, but it has also starkly exposed the outdated arbitration system, impunity, and blatant disregard for the law still prevailing in our society. The question is, who gave these arbitrators the power to decide matters of life and death? Why are legal matters adjudicated outside the formal judicial system?

In many rural areas of Bangladesh, the arbitration system is still prevalent, where influential individuals pass judgments at their discretion—sometimes imposing punishments like public humiliation or fines, thereby disposing of criminal offences. Such arbitration proceedings have no basis in law and lack the minimum standards of justice. In many cases, they become another name for the oppression of the innocent and the helpless. Therefore, now is the right time to take action against the violence associated with the arbitration system in rural areas.