Arbitration vs farce
Palash podder, Dept. of sociology, Jagannath, Hall, DU
Arbitration frequently takes place in both rural and urban localities of Bangladesh to reconcile friction and disturbance, especially in order to free a person (male or female) from oppression or molestation by the miscreants. To abate individual conflicts or familial dispute, arbitration is also being called now and then. But what happens actually in the name of arbitration? As far I know, it is one of the modes to save culprits from allegations brought by the victims. Because the arbitration that takes place are usually headed by the chiefs of the adjoining locality, in most cases it is seen that alleged people or offenders commit illegal and antisocial activities backed by the local chief. To achieve their personal interest arbitrators or village politicians often set their cadres or hired hooligans to do mischief or harass peaceful people. Next to that, they call for arbitration in favour of miscreants and that is an open secret. Local residents including young or old plays a secondary role while it is held. Affected people are so helpless that they find no options but to accept the partial verdict. In many cases, the alleged persons get nominal punishments like slaps, caning, etc. Or, often the alleged persons have to pay a certain amount of money. But the money is hardly ever paid to victims, or a little amount occasionally paid. Heads of the arbitration embezzle the rest of the money. Even they often boycott the victims. And that is truly unjust and regrettable. In fact, offenders are hardly punished and that, consequently, embolden them to perpetrate crimes. As long as our law enforcement agencies neglect such anti social activities, actors of these incidents will keep depriving people from justice and earn money illegitimately. Hence our civic society and conscious village people should come forward with pragmatic steps to resist such farce in the name of trial or arbitration. More public awareness is certainly needed in this regard.
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