Sheikh Hasina's challenge

However, some of the opposition demands reflect the socio-economic realities that the nation cannot perhaps live with perpetually. For example, the opposition call for ending violence will strike a responsive chord in many. The government efforts in this area have failed to make much of an impression on the mentors of violence, popularly known as godfathers.

As for corruption, the less said, the better. It has spread its pernicious tentacles in every direction, and the opposition is only echoing the popular demand that something be done to contain its all-pervasive nature. The setting up of an independent anti-corruption commission is taking an unusually long time, despite its being a crying need of the hour.

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The trickiest of the issues raised is perhaps the reference to Hawa Bhaban, which has seemingly emerged as a parallel power centre, giving rise to many questions and queries in the public mind. The government would only be doing itself a disservice if it makes a short shrift of the public concern.

While we again express our total rejection of the opposition plan to resort to hartal and its issuance of the ultimatum, we also stick to our position that the opposition needs to be given the space it merits under constitutional provisions in a democratic dispensation.

The government, we feel, should initiate a dialogue with the opposition, acknowledging the public concern over the deteriorating state of political confrontation. It must make a genuine attempt to resolve the political crisis, and not a temporizing move to counter the opposition plan. It is time the two major parties attached more importance to public concerns than party considerations.