Killing of BCL leader

A Bangladesh Chhatra League leader (BCL) is the latest victim of violence. His killing follows a series of attacks on political activists and workers, on either side of the divide, in the past few weeks.

The attacks on political activists continue despite the proposal for an understanding by two secretary-generals of the BNP and the Awami League--that criminals should have no place in politics-- at a recent meeting organised jointly by the Centre for Policy Dialogue, the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The leaders admitted that criminals were a liability; they also reached a broad consensus on ridding their parties of such undesirable elements. But there has apparently been no follow-up to the position taken by the two leaders.

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The situation in the political arena is worsening. And political leaders are confusing matters by mindless trading of accusations. They take virtually no time to identify the criminals as having been deployed by their political rivals whenever a ghastly incident takes place. At best, it might serve their purpose of creating an embarrassing situation for their opponents. At worst, it could help the real culprits to take advantage of the murky situation created by irresponsible utterances. Those on the sidelines might even get the impression that political leaders are more interested in defaming their rivals, than bringing the killers to justice. That is unfortunate, to say the least.

The strangely negative attitude of the major political parties to each other also impedes the growth of a tolerant political culture. It breeds mistrust and misunderstanding on a scale that makes it difficult for democracy to function smoothly.

The political parties must not only feel the need for but also insist on creating the conditions in which politics does not lose its sense of direction. For that to happen, they have to go beyond rendering lip service to law and order-- a real commitment to ousting killers and looters from the parties is needed.