Terror issue sidetracked!

Indeed, not only was there no discussion of the extremist menace, but the chair of the meeting BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan apparently ruled out terrorism as a topic of discussion.

This is the latest example of how the BNP high command seems to be reluctant to convene a free and open discussion on the subject, even among themselves. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no special cabinet meeting convened to address this issue, and it seems as though the ruling party high command is shying away from addressing the issue in a substantive manner either among themselves or with the party rank and file.

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It seems to us that this is precisely the wrong tack for it to be taking right now. One, the issue must be discussed openly and the high command should specially be receptive to what its lower level workers and activists have to say on the issue. In the second place, the BNP has in place, as a political party, a highly developed network of workers and party men, who could be mobilised to counter the threat. This has not happened.

We have been critical of the main opposition's refusal to sit with the government for talks on this issue, which we consider a folly. However, if anything it is even greater folly for the ruling party to refuse to meaningfully discuss the issue among its own members. If they are not willing to discuss the issue internally, it raises the question of how sincere they are in discussing the issue with the opposition.

To make matters worse, the executive body meeting focused exclusively on how to counter the opposition rally that is scheduled for December 21. It seems to us that the BNP is more concerned with fighting the opposition than it is with fighting terrorism. What other conclusion can one draw from the subject matter of this first executive body meeting after five years?