The nation has observed a month of mourning for the killing of Bangabandhu along with some of his family members. It should also be felt with heavy heart that everyday men, women and children are killed and butchered because of worsening law and order situation.
When the government is expected urgently to get their acts together some Awami League leaders have stared blaming left-leaning ally JSD for preparing the ground for the murder of Bangabandhu in 1975. The allegations go so far as to say that some of them were found rejoicing in the streets.
After such serious aspersion labelled against a major architect of the present unelected socialistic foundation of the government nobody can be sure about what is coming.
Deliberate or not serious dissension is seen in the exchange of unfriendly public utterances among the members of the coalition government. Such internal disunity though bound to happen among the strange bed-fellows. Lack of confidence among the coalition partners will make the difficult government more difficult as the crisis of governance aggravates.
The question is how long we shall allow the sadness of the past to stand in the way of proving our own ability and greatness to make the country safe for all. We also see the futility of the question who are looking for Bangabandhu’s killers; where were they then. Gen. Ershad of Jatiyo Party is trying to distance his party from the failures of the government though his own authority within his own party remains doubtful. Anyhow, he barks but does not bite.
The potentially dangerous gain of the leftists has been to render popular elections unnecessary to be in power. What has been produced is mishmash of a government unable to be politically efficient and focused. No government worth its name can fail to ensure safety and security of life.
It is also true that Awami League will never be the same. Most of them seem to have become arrogant revolutionary and the civility and decency of the past as a democratic party is fast disappearing. Such arbitrariness and might is right attitude are infecting our younger generation in particular. There is no realization that the people’s representatives have to be good public examples for others.
But nobody in the government seems to be bothered by the presence of dangerous and illegal weapons all over the country and the people’s agony of living with no security of life and property.
Persons are fearlessly kidnapped for ransom in the capital and elsewhere with no hesitation in inflicting torture and threatening police like crossfire. People are living a harrowing life in the midst of death, rape, kidnapping and disappearances. According to the NGO Ain o Salish Kendra forced disappearances are rising.
What is most damnable is that by and large politics and crimes each sustaining the other.
Yet, the government’s sole concentration is on finding religious extremists and the police have been given blanket power to arrest anybody and file cases on mere suspicion of connection with any Islamic Party. But there should be an awareness about the activities of other extremists. But they are free.
Let us hope as a teaching of the month of national mourning, the men and women in power will have the ear to hear the cry of others killed everyday in the lawlessness of the situation. Political ruthlessness is no help for safety and security in the country. The lives of all have to be seen as important.
