A concerned nation writhes

Already, ominous signs of what may come in the days ahead, unless there is a negotiated settlement to the political impasse, are quite manifest. BNP offices in at least two localities in the city have come under attack and the party's supporters ransacked the homes of the dissident leaders who have just launched a new political party. Brawn is getting the better of brain.

The opposition is going to carry out the Dhaka siege plan today. The opposition's programme, which has all the elements of overt belligerence in it, aims to bring everything to a standstill in the city. But the point they are missing is that it is the people, not the government, who will have to bear the brunt of the siege. This cannot have anything to do with our collective good. We are aware of the opposition's frustrations and grievances, but their programmes have to be well directed and worthwhile from the public point of view.

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That said, there is one silver lining in the cloud that deserves mention. The BNP decision-makers have decided to hold the party rally in front of their central office instead of the Paltan Maidan, as planned originally, thus obviating the possibility of a direct showdown.

The political leaders had hinted at some sort of understanding being reached on the thorny issues that stand in the way of holding a free and fair election and keeping the democratic process alive. But it is obvious that they could make no headway on the core issue of who will head the next caretaker government and the dialogue turned out to be an exercise in futility.

We expect, for very obvious reasons, circumspection from the two major parties which are now the arbiters of our political destiny. We urge them not to throw the country into the throes of a graver political uncertainty.