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Why did a small incident turn into large-scale violence?
The recent incident of large-scale violence in the country was a bolt from the blue, which no one could possibly predict, although some commentators detected some simmering discontent among some sections of the people. Mob violence is like a bush fire -- it is easily started, spreads rapidly, and is somewhat indiscriminate about who or what it damages.
On August 22, the chief adviser, in an address to the nation, indicated how "a few evil forces and opportunity-seeking rowdy elements" took advantage of a trifling incident at Dhaka University, and resorted to vandalism and chaos in different places in the country.
He further said that even after the government's expression of deep regret, withdrawal of the army camp from Dhaka University campus, formation of a probe body, and commencement of a judicial inquiry, untoward incidents and vandalism continued.
Regrettably, violence on the streets has been the form of protests in the country for some years. Politicians in the opposition, instead of debating the issues in the parliament, brought them out on the streets and, thus, a culture of violence was introduced as a method of protest.
Indiscriminate attacks on vehicles and passengers, destruction of public and private property, and disturbing of public life have become routine during protests. What is not understood is that there are other ways of ventilating the grievances. It comes down to, sadly, one conclusion -- "lack of tolerance and mutual respect " for others. Violence begets violence.
There is an overwhelming view among the silent majority that the government's reaction had been commendable, including the reported meeting between teachers and representatives of army.
Let us wait for the reports of the probe body and judicial inquiry to find out what actually occurred and who the culprits were.
Today's students are the future administrators, social and business entrepreneurs, academics, and leaders in art and culture. What students now view through their prism is likely to change when they themselves become part of governance. In real life, left-wing students have become capitalists, abandoning their earlier ideology. This is quite natural. Values and ideology change, and are not stagnant.
They march with the times
It is noted that there is an implicit social contract between the generation of today and that of to-morrow. In laymen's terms, this means that the people give up some rights to a government in order to receive social order. Social contract theory provides the rationale behind the historically important notion that legitimate state authority must be derived from the consent of the governed.
There are rights and obligations on both sides. Rights without obligations descend into license. Future leaders must appreciate and understand the underpinnings of a social contract of governance under democracy.
Possible causes
Why did the minor incident at a sports ground suddenly turn into large-scale violence? Political observers believe there are many reasons, and some of them deserve mention: First, a section of influential people, who never complied with rule of law, would never like to be subject to an environment characterised by rule of law. They have been used to the kind of life, which disregards rule of law for many years, and it has become a norm for them. The moral crusade against suspected corrupt people by the caretaker government has alienated many influential people, and their relations and friends. They are unhappy with the new regime that insists on compliance with rule of law. Some of them thought that the arms of the law would never touch them. Second, many eminent political leaders have lost their face before the people. People were surprised by the allegations that some of the national leaders did not pay taxes, raised money through extortion, and used muscle power. Some of them were convicted, and sentenced to long-term imprisonment. They have a sizeable following because of past patronage, and their followers are displeased with the actions of the interim government. Third, musclemen thrived under political patronage. They cannot survive now because the patronage is gone. These musclemen cannot enjoy wielding power against ordinary people anymore. They are now lying low, and looking for any opportunity to get their roles back. Fourth, the demolition of slums, although seen as an action against poor people, led to crime-free zones within the community because criminal gangs controlled the slums. The poor slum dwellers were helpless, and could not say anything against them. According to a World Bank report recently released, the vast majority of slum dwellers, some 93 percent, reportedly said that they had been afflicted with the vice of crime and violence. A total of 33 different types of crime have been identified. Among the most commonly reported crimes are toll collection, musclemen-induced violence, drug and alcohol trade, land grabbing, gambling, violence against women and children, illegal arms business, arson, murder and kidnapping, sexual, physical, and psychological torture, and wife bashing. These criminal gangs have lost their influence on slum dwellers and are idle. Fifth, the checking of rickshaw licenses in the city has annoyed many unlicensed or fake-licensed rickshaw pullers and owners. So there is resentment against the authority among them. Sixth, the clearance of hawkers from pavements has angered them as they cannot do business as usual. The pedestrians should have been happy with the free pavements to walk on, but they also do not appear to sympathise with the government's action, rather they emphathise with the hawkers. This disgruntled section also looks for an opportunity to vent its anger. All these above factors have been compounded by the high rise of the prices of essential commodities. Observers argue that there should been have a series of advertisement in the media, or posters in key places all over the country, in which the government could clearly explain why the price rise has been occurring and what actions the government is taking to meet the challenge. Over and above, floods have devastated infrastructure, and destroyed people's houses, cattle, and crops. It has been a daunting task for the government to address all these issues in a short period of time with limited resources. Therefore, there is a perception in some quarters that the government is failing the people. Against this background, sociologists believe that the trifling incident became the spark of a wider conflagration because these dissatisfied elements joined the students. As is the case with most human endeavours, they do not conform to the neatness of mathematics. Human reactions often do not tend to follow a rational guideline because human beings are "rational animals." The trait of animality often gets priority over that of rationality. The government must now tread carefully and consider which steps they had taken had unintended consequences and need to be revised, so that a sense of "feel-good" is perceived by people. Abraham Lincoln once said : "With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed." Many suggest that the government may consider holding a series of meetings with stakeholders for adopting strategies that are appropriate and sensible. Many observers believe that the government must get on with the job to which they are committed, i.e. holding a free, fair, and credible election by the end of 2008, on a level-paying field and without the influence of black-money, musclemen and weapons. Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.
Why did the minor incident at a sports ground suddenly turn into large-scale violence? Political observers believe there are many reasons, and some of them deserve mention: First, a section of influential people, who never complied with rule of law, would never like to be subject to an environment characterised by rule of law. They have been used to the kind of life, which disregards rule of law for many years, and it has become a norm for them. The moral crusade against suspected corrupt people by the caretaker government has alienated many influential people, and their relations and friends. They are unhappy with the new regime that insists on compliance with rule of law. Some of them thought that the arms of the law would never touch them. Second, many eminent political leaders have lost their face before the people. People were surprised by the allegations that some of the national leaders did not pay taxes, raised money through extortion, and used muscle power. Some of them were convicted, and sentenced to long-term imprisonment. They have a sizeable following because of past patronage, and their followers are displeased with the actions of the interim government. Third, musclemen thrived under political patronage. They cannot survive now because the patronage is gone. These musclemen cannot enjoy wielding power against ordinary people anymore. They are now lying low, and looking for any opportunity to get their roles back. Fourth, the demolition of slums, although seen as an action against poor people, led to crime-free zones within the community because criminal gangs controlled the slums. The poor slum dwellers were helpless, and could not say anything against them. According to a World Bank report recently released, the vast majority of slum dwellers, some 93 percent, reportedly said that they had been afflicted with the vice of crime and violence. A total of 33 different types of crime have been identified. Among the most commonly reported crimes are toll collection, musclemen-induced violence, drug and alcohol trade, land grabbing, gambling, violence against women and children, illegal arms business, arson, murder and kidnapping, sexual, physical, and psychological torture, and wife bashing. These criminal gangs have lost their influence on slum dwellers and are idle. Fifth, the checking of rickshaw licenses in the city has annoyed many unlicensed or fake-licensed rickshaw pullers and owners. So there is resentment against the authority among them. Sixth, the clearance of hawkers from pavements has angered them as they cannot do business as usual. The pedestrians should have been happy with the free pavements to walk on, but they also do not appear to sympathise with the government's action, rather they emphathise with the hawkers. This disgruntled section also looks for an opportunity to vent its anger. All these above factors have been compounded by the high rise of the prices of essential commodities. Observers argue that there should been have a series of advertisement in the media, or posters in key places all over the country, in which the government could clearly explain why the price rise has been occurring and what actions the government is taking to meet the challenge. Over and above, floods have devastated infrastructure, and destroyed people's houses, cattle, and crops. It has been a daunting task for the government to address all these issues in a short period of time with limited resources. Therefore, there is a perception in some quarters that the government is failing the people. Against this background, sociologists believe that the trifling incident became the spark of a wider conflagration because these dissatisfied elements joined the students. As is the case with most human endeavours, they do not conform to the neatness of mathematics. Human reactions often do not tend to follow a rational guideline because human beings are "rational animals." The trait of animality often gets priority over that of rationality. The government must now tread carefully and consider which steps they had taken had unintended consequences and need to be revised, so that a sense of "feel-good" is perceived by people. Abraham Lincoln once said : "With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed." Many suggest that the government may consider holding a series of meetings with stakeholders for adopting strategies that are appropriate and sensible. Many observers believe that the government must get on with the job to which they are committed, i.e. holding a free, fair, and credible election by the end of 2008, on a level-paying field and without the influence of black-money, musclemen and weapons. Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.
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