The distressing image of Ali Azam, president of the Boali union of the BNP in Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur district, leading the funeral prayer of his mother in fetters and handcuffs has exposed the emptiness of so-called compassion in our policing and the prison system. It is well known that parole is granted only on the ground of compassion to anyone under custody, irrespective of conviction or even if they are under trial. But Ali Azam’s case has proven that such a compassionate act can also become an egregiously uncompassionate behaviour.  Though this excruciating image has drawn widespread condemnation within the country, the government seems to be unmoved. Neither any action has been taken against those involved in such inhumane treatment to a detainee, nor any investigation has been ordered, despite a rare intervention by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in this regard. The only voice heard was of Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, who said that taking off Azam’...