Heading towards a deeper conflict

Of course, we warned the government of the consequences of 'sealing off all the avenues for the opposition to assemble, hold rallies and put their points across to the people' that 'might lead them to go back on the hartal course which we dread so much.' But the opposition should not labour under the impression that their hartal programme announced for 28th and 29th April could be justified on any ground whatsoever. This is more because of the fact that their use of alternatives to hartal spurred on a popular expectation that a 'no-hartal regimen' was here to stay. The people were getting accustomed to human chains, mass rallies and even the no-confidence demonstrations hoping that these will be given a fuller run.

Deplorably, on the one hand, we have the opposition's patently undemocratic and highly intimidating agenda for toppling the government; and on the other, we have a BNP-led coalition government breaking all laws of the land in the name of countering opposition programmes which has degenerated into arresting innocent people and harassing citizens on an appalling scale.

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This is conflictive politics at its worst. What lies in store is terribly upsetting, disquieting. From today, up until April 30, the so-called opposition-prophesied doomsday for the government, there will be an intensified series of Awami League programmes designed for hartal days and for staging mass rallies, sit-in demonstrations onwards. The BNP is set to take the field with its set of counter-programmes.

All this conjures up a re-entry into the dark tunnel we thought we had consigned to oblivion. This is a lose-lose vortex the ruling coalition and the opposition party are getting thrown into. It is not even a lose-win situation; neither of the parties can emerge a winner from it. What is more stupendous, the nation will be the ultimate loser, and the people the greatest sufferer. Leaders are meant to lead us to a better time, not to a more depressive situation. But, it's a shame they are ushering us into hell-fire. Please, step back, before it is too late!