Editorial
Shopowners Know Where it Hurts
Owners and employees of shops for electrical goods and appliances located along Nawabpur Road in the city's commercial hub went on a 30-minute token strike on Tuesday afternoon in protest against, what they called, extortion and terror being regularly inflicted on them. The exasperated owners were responding to the call of Bangladesh Electrical Association. They brought out a procession and held a rally in front of the office of the Association. The leaders of the community were unanimous in voicing their demand to the government for curbing the menace of terrorism and extortion on pain of facing non-payment of taxes by the shopowners.
Their unified stance against the culprits who often claim links to the ruling party should send the right message to all concerned. Police connivance has also been alleged by sufferers and a number of reports to such effect have been published in the national press from time to time. Illegal toll collection, blackmailing and abduction of businessmen, and physically assaulting shopowners on refusal to pay ransom or toll have all become very rampant. The business community, in particular, is writhing from a feeling of uncertainty and insecurity. But the government of the day is seemingly underplaying the potential threat to peace and security in the society. The rulers must take lesson from history and try their best to restore peace in the society for the wellbeing of the citizens as well as the future of democracy.
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