Over the last few weeks, newspapers have been publishing two contrasting pictures. One shows the activists of the ruling Awami League carrying locally-made arms in a display of muscle power and dominance in the political sphere, and the other is of angry BNP supporters holding protests in larger numbers. In never ending confrontational politics such contrasting images are not unusual, but the difference in policing those public gatherings is quite shocking.  Though police are supposed to be neutral and sincere in maintaining peace and order, their actions and inactions could not be more partisan. Reports suggest that, over the fortnight, there were clashes in more than 70 places across Bangladesh. In most cases, armed supporters of the ruling party attacked BNP activists where police remained mere spectators, but in other incidents, they too became involved in violence - often with brutal and excessive force. The worst, however, is the shocking revelation that a member of the Detec...