Mutually assured destruction

In this matter, neither the opposition nor the government is guiltless. The opposition can and must be faulted, not only for the calling of the hartals, but for the violence and lawlessness that have accompanied them. There can be no excuse and no justification for vandalism and destruction of public and private property, and the assault of law enforcement personnel. To blame it out on smaller groups cannot absolve the leaders of their responsibility in the matter.

We express our deepest sympathy to the family of Police Constable Ashraf Siddiqui who was killed in the line of duty attempting to keep the peace during Sunday's hartal in Sherpur. Five other police officers were wounded in the Sherpur fracas, one critically, and among other atrocities, a businessman was also set on fire by pickets in Old Dhaka. Our heart-felt sympathy goes out to all those who have been victims of the recent violence which we condemn unreservedly.

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For their part, the administration is also culpable for much of the violence by, in the first place, denying the opposition any democratic space in which to operate and routinely denying them permission to gather or breaking up their processions and rallies; and in the second place, by authorising the police to use excessive and brutal means with which to suppress such demonstrations. The shocking violence meted out during the course of the hartals to the protesters, many of whom were demonstrating peacefully and lawfully, is unacceptable, and that the police excesses have contributed to the overall climate of fear and violence is undeniable.

Both sides need to retreat from their posture of mutually assured destruction. No one is served by the country's streets turning into a war-zone between police and protesters. The opposition should eschew hartals, and at the very least, make it their responsibility to ensure that no one is hurt and no damage is done during them. The administration, for its part, must take the responsibility to ensure that the police do not themselves run riot and brutalise the protesters. To continue along this dangerous path risks the total destruction of the possibility of constructive democratic politics which is something that no one who cares for the future of Bangladesh can want.