Mahmudul Sumon*

Conversation between a traffic police and a public in Dhaka (2012)

Police: this car is parked illegally …you are fined

Public: (the car owner) But where is it written that this is a no parking zone (also indicates that a ministry car was just parked here; you didn’t say anything to that car

Police: Oh …you seem to know no law…all roads are no parking, parking is only when it is written

Public: Really? Where is that law? Can you tell me? 

Police: I am not bound to tell you the law…

Public: Why not? no, no .. you must tell me what is exactly the law, under which you intend to fine me…show me the law and I will accept the ticket..

Police: I am not your servant

Public: In fact you are a public servant …you are supposed to give the public security in the road but not harassment…

(A group of other police joins the conversation)

Police: you are creating a scene madam…tell your guardians to come

Public (close to forty years of age, female, tall): what do you mean by guardian? I am my own guardian 

Police: I mean the one with whom you just talked over phone…

Public: How do you know I am talking to my guardian? I am my own guardian …I am also the owner of this car

Police: ok I will let you go…will excuse you this time! 

Public: No… no…. I will accept the ticket as long as you can tell me the law 

Police: We cannot keep all the law books in hand…

Public: You should know by heart… 

Police: ok …the fact is no one asks like that to us…so we don’t know

Public: But you should know and we should ask 

End of conversation. Public refuses to be ‘excused’ by the police and accepts the fine and leaves the scene in a relaxing mood!

*মাহমুদুল সুমন জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের নৃবিজ্ঞান বিভাগে শিক্ষকতা করেন। আগ্রহের বিষয় এথনিসিটি, ও আত্মপরিচয়ের রাজনীতি। এই বিষয়ে সম্প্রতি পি এইচ ডি অভিসন্দর্ভ জমা দিয়েছেন। ছবি তুলতে ভালবাসেন। একজন নারীবাদীর সঙ্গে সংসার করছেন। Academia Page

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