SM Mizanur Rahman :
Political situation of the country is now entering a highly volatile phase as the ruling Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led-20-party alliance are proceeding with ongoing efforts to display their strength.
“We have entered a highly volatile phase. We are very scared for our lives. And I do not know what will be the next consequence,” constitutional expert Dr Shahdeen Malik told The New Nation on Monday.
The government is determined to tackle the situation at any cost, while the pro-hartal and blockade supporters are still attempting to make the country unstable by unleashing a reign of terror across the country, added the expert.
Shahdeen Malik said as the government is using law enforcers to combat deadly arson attacks like hurling of petrol bombs, the extra-judicial killings are taking place.
“On the other hand, as the pro-hartal and blockade supporters failed to take to the streets, they have chosen to launch clandestine attack with petrol bombs,” he mentioned.
Some 35 days have already elapsed since January 5 but the countywide nonstop blockade and ongoing hartal, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, continued till date.
Civil society members, different professional bodies, academics, businessmen and students are repeatedly urging the two major parities — AL and BNP — to backtrack from their ‘no return’ position in a bid to restore peace in society as well as to save lives and properties.
At least 88 people were killed and around 1,000 transports were either torched or ransacked in the last 35 days. But the two parities are not paying heed to their call rather going hard against each other.
Talking to The New Nation, Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury and Professor Giausuddin Mollah, expressing their grave concern over the rigidity said that both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia are unlikely to backtrack from their rigid stands. This, they said, is deteriorating the situation further throughout the country.
“We all just want adjustment to make our country stable as it is now passing through a critical juncture,” said Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury.
He added as AL is in power it will have to take the initiative at first by giving space to BNP for the adjustment. “If AL allows BNP to hold its political programmes like meeting, rally and procession, the situation may improve. Any other party or force, from within the country or outside, will not be able to resolve the ongoing political crisis as AL and BNP are the two major political parties with massive public support,” mentioned Professor Chowdhury.
Professor Giausuddin Mollah, also the president of Political Science Association, said as the two major parities — AL and BNP — are at the point of ‘no return’ position, the civil society members, different professional bodies, academic and businessmen will have to go to the President, Md Abdul Hamid, as a third party. “And they will have to request the President to find a peaceful way out of the current political standoff to save the country and its people,” he said.
“As the civil society members, different professional bodies, academic and businessmen continued to talk about holding a dialogue to resolve the current political impasse, only President can take such initiative right now,” he said.
“I think if no solution takes place the volatile situation and the prevailing violence will deteriorate further across the country. Then the two major political parties will be compelled to reach a consensus, otherwise they will be liable for the consequences,” he observed.
Describing the recent activities of the BNP-Jamaat alliance as militancy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically said that her government would never surrender to militancy.
Affirming that she is ready to face any consequence, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia reiterated that the ongoing movement of the 20-party alliance would continue until it reaches its desired goal.
