Parties stooped too low

Both the parties played tricks with the nation in their bid to undermine each other. Nowhere in their scheme of ruthless bargaining did the people figure. To begin with, the BNP-led alliance was not willing to cede any space to the opposition. Politicisation of key institutions by the alliance has virtually rendered them ineffectual. The institutions that should remain above controversy are now vitiated by party politics, the highest judiciary being no exception.

The caretaker government, for its part, could not win the confidence of the 14-party alliance and many of its of decisions were rejected. The political uncertainty persisted while the economy came under tremendous strain. It was easy for the caretaker government and the BNP to blame the AL-led alliance for the hartals and blockades, which severely disrupted life. But the caretaker government had the legal and moral responsibility to keep the country on the right track.

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The Awami League's handling of the political situation also came as a rude shock to people. The party started with a long list of demands that it had prepared after extensive discussions and brain-storming, but finally it could do no better than identifying some individuals and pressed for their removal while no substantive change took place in the existing system. Its only weapon was hartal which was finally sharpened with the idea of blockade that paralysed the country and caused colossal damage to the economy. And more than 70 lives have been lost in political violence in the last two months.

We are, unfortunately, forced to conclude that the nation has been taken for a ride by the political parties.