Attack on Dr Kamal Hossain

It appears to be a tell-tale story of letting things happen. But the diametrically opposite view is sought to be projected by the Home Minister and the Adhikar Andolon people who said respectively that it was the doing of armed guards accompanying Dr Kamal and a pure fabrication. The conclusion that the attack could have been pre-meditated seemed to be borne out by the fact that the anti-peace treaty Parbatya Samoadhikar Andolon had earlier declared Dr Kamal Hossain, Santu Larma, Moni Swapan Dewan and Manik Lal Dewan persona non grata.

This may be interpreted as democratic space being denied to Dr Kamal Hossain -- in addition to its denial to the opposition AL. Since the BNP came to power two years ago, the ruling party has been giving the impression that it is not opposed to the CHT peace accord. On the contrary, it is supportive of it. In fact, BNP secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan headed a committee to facilitate implementation of the agreement.

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Now, the pro-government Parbatya Samoadhikar Andolon led by local BNP MP which has been resisting the peace accord is apparently raising the indigenous people versus settler issue.

It is heartening that Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has asked the concerned to take legal action against the attackers, regardless of their party affiliations. Her directive must be implemented to the hilt if the credibility of the government has to come clean on it.