We count on the men and women in our police force to treat the crime of murder with the utmost seriousness.
Sadly, the reality is a bit different.
Over the last two and a half years, the Dhaka Tribune has discovered, over 3,300 dead bodies have been recovered -- bodies that have yet to be identified by police.
While we understand that it is not possible to find the identity of these bodies in every instance, the failure to do so can, in most cases, be chalked down to sloppy police work.
Much of the problem boils down to our police officials being reluctant to do their job scrupulously, simply because it means a heavier workload.
That is not all. Due to a lack of storage space, morgue authorities are always quick on the draw when it comes to labelling a body as unidentified.
As a result, the lives of so thousands are being swept under the rug, and our law enforcement officers show no urgency to step up to the task.
It also goes without saying that this practice lets murderers and other criminals off the hook, and encourages more crime by sending a message that our police are not up to the job.
We must understand the terrible tragedy that one death entails. The families of those who have departed have a right to seek justice and gain closure.
Police officers have a solemn duty to serve and protect the people of this nation, and get to the bottom of things -- this means having an uncompromising work ethic.
Right now, they are leaving a lot to be desired.
