Nazmul Mridha, a Chaatra Dal leader of Patuakhali, was allowed to join the last rites of his father in parole. He joined the Namaz-e-Janaza, but the scene epitomises our society and state.

Nazmul was in chains, his legs fettered. Hundreds of people who joined the Janaza saw the son of the deceased facing the ignominy.

Aren’t we all like Nazmul? Under the chains in a police state where human dignity has evaporated?

This is not the first time this sort of thing occurred. We have seen several times that people who are under custody had joined the last rite of either of their parents but were chained as police cited ‘security reasons.’

But the country's law clearly suggests this cannot be done. Under the custody act this sort of act is completely forbidden. Even the High Court gave show cause notices several times. But the police and administration never pay heed.

The first and foremost duty of a state is to save the life and dignity of its citizens. The police and other forces, who are paid by the taxpayers’ money, are given the authority to ensure that. They can only enjoy the privilege only until they are true to their promise. As soon as they do otherwise, they ought to face consequences.

Even if a person is convicted, the police do not have the right to refrain from joining the last rite of his parents and humiliate by keeping his legs under chain. It is said that the British police used to do the same for the so-called dangerous criminals who were waiting to be hanged.

For British people we were just colonial subjects and not the citizens of a sovereign country whose dignity must be respected. Yet, our police are doing worse than that. They are putting people under chain who are not even convicted, just arrested for an allegation and ongoing trial. This is absolutely unacceptable; this shakes the very foundation of the state.

Yet, this sort of thing is continuously taking place. This is a signal that the state does not bother about our dignity.

Probably, we all are like Nazmul Mridha, chained in fetters.