Let logic and decency prevail
THE cabinet's decision to revoke the allotment of Khaleda Zia's residence on Moinul Road, Dhaka Cantonment, has put the opposition party in a combative mood. It goes without saying that it has heated up the country's political front.
The opposition leaders have expressed strong resentment against this move and have declared that there will be further agitation unless the government backs off, while the ruling party asserts that it will not shift from its stand.
It is known that a cantonment is a highly sensitive area that remains under stringent surveillance round the clock. So, a non-military, prominent political figure owning a house in a cantonment is naturally viewed from a different angle. The grounds on which Khaleda Zia was allowed to live in that house were quite different right after her husband ex-president Ziaur Rahman's assassination back in 1981.
Moreover, she possesses another residence, which means that even if she gives up the house in the cantonment she will not be inconvenienced. Keeping that in view, she could have perhaps grabbed the opportunity to prove her munificence by quitting the controversial house.
Khaleda Zia held political meetings with her leaders and general activists, including courtesy calls by foreign diplomats, for a couple of decades in an area that has strategic importance and military establishments. Wasn't that an obvious breach of military security?
Another point is that, when out of power, Khaleda Zia enjoys more safety than her Awami League counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, as the latter lives in a civilian area with no special security arrangements.
Nevertheless, the ongoing tussle between the government and the opposition over a leader's residence is a hyperbolic political battle, if judged in broad terms. The country is now in the middle of multifarious adversities. The people are yet to get over the shockwaves generated by the heinous BDR killings, and there is the ever-mounting menace of power crisis and the impact of the global economic meltdown.
If the two major parties lock horns over something less vital, nothing will be more unfortunate than that. As plain on-lookers of the country's political activities over almost four decades, we have all along found that our politicians cynical towards their ideological opponents. They have almost in all cases failed to reach agreement on anything that involves the people's interest.
Nothing appeases or enrages the politicians more than winning or losing polls. We remember several nightmarish instances when they triggered clashes all over the country in the recent past, mainly for political vengeance. They failed to restrain their activists from damaging vehicles, assaulting pedestrians, and destabilising public educational institutions. While going on strikes to paralyse countrywide communication, they seem to have the least concern about the ordinary citizens who have to go out every day to make a living.
So, the almost imminent duel between the party in power and the opposition has every reason to scare peace-lovers. Opposition for the sake of opposition, irrespective of the issues, should not be the political custom of any civilised state.
We don't know when and how this dispute will be resolved. But the people certainly expect both the concerned sides to accept whatever the court decides, provided that the issue finally reaches there for settlement. Both parties should abstain from provocation by making a mountain out of a molehill. Since the government holds the upper hand it should display utmost tolerance in this regard.
Khaleda Zia, as the country's ex-premier, should be allowed to have adequate time and legal privileges to defend herself. The process should not look like an effort to evict her forcibly, so that it doesn't lead to untoward consequences.
Similarly, she should instruct her party members not to agitate on the streets in case she has to leave the cantonment at the end. Let logic and decency prevail over political obduracy.
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