Problematic Statement by Education Minister on Night Roaming: A Violation of Rights

According to a newspaper report, the Education Minister said: “The unnecessary roaming of teenagers on the streets at night must be stopped. From now on, if anyone is found on the streets at night, the police will interrogate them. If this results in a constitutional violation, we will look into that later.”

This statement is problematic for many reasons. First, it empowers state machinery and law enforcement agencies to define and determine what ‘unnecessary’ means — something unacceptable. Second, granting police the power to interrogate anyone ‘found on the streets at night’ is a gross violation of individual rights, which no democratic state can propose or promote. Third (and most dangerous), it shows clear disregard for constitutional protections and encourages law enforcement to violate them.

In what universe does this make sense? How can violation of individual rights coexist with a commitment to a liberal democratic framework? This is a blatant infringement on citizens’ rights that cannot and must not continue. The state simply cannot harass a citizen for roaming the streets. You cannot take action against a citizen without clear proof and dismiss constitutional protections. That’s not how democracy works.

More importantly, such statements encourage police to violate rights, unleashing administrative evil — a leviathan that cannot be tamed. We have seen what that leads to: tonight, police unnecessarily attacked and harassed citizens just for taking a walk or being in a place.

Will this be addressed? Will the government take action against law enforcement members? Will ministers stop making populist statements? The answers will determine the fate of governance. We may have weak memories, but not so weak that we forget what a police state looks like.

All this highlights the necessity of change — in institutions, political structure, power dynamics. The government must understand that to protect citizens and run the country effectively, institutions need protection from ruling parties, politicization, and capture. Democratic good governance requires checks and balances for accountability, ensuring rule of law. Reform is not a buzzword; it’s a necessity. Without meaningful reforms establishing rule of law, an elected government post-July Uprising will not survive.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position or editorial stance of The Daily Campus. This piece has been shared from Dr. Asif M. Shahan's public Facebook post and is reproduced here for informational purposes only. The Daily Campus has no involvement in its authorship, content, or publication.