Editorial Desk :
A placard protesting students were carrying on Thursday in a Dhaka city intersection read as “road is closed, state repair work is in progress” made a sensational appeal and big impact to people all over. As days go by it highlights the cause of the protest is no longer limited to a safe road movement, but also correction of all wrongs, corruptions and injustice the state is now plagued by. It is not surprising that the young students are demanding justice the nation is deprived of.
Another placard read as “if you become afraid you are finished; if you stand to resist you are Bangladesh.” It reminds the historic role of students at every turning point in Bangladesh’s history. Another reads as “if we don’t wake up how the morning will come.” These are high thought provoking coming from our young children to show they are highly intelligent and quite aware of the decay and degradation in our state machinery that our rulers have destroyed in search of their greed for power.
They are non-political but innocent and fresh patriots and their slogans have come as an awakening call that people must unite to root out all evils, corruption and indiscipline to restore people’s right at all levels. The older generation failed to face the challenge but the younger ones are braving to show the way. They are too young to take the challenge. But we see no sign that we the elders have the strength to take the challenge.
Their calls hear like the beginning of a renaissance that the moribund socio-political system and way of governance need for far reaching change. The killing of two students on Airport road just has sparked anger all over the country.
People have total solidarity with the students’ as they
are calling for deeper reform in the transport system and the system of governance. They are talking on issues their elders have so far failed to make issues for change.
We must say students have already created examples how to regulate traffic, check unauthorized vehicles and drivers running without driving license. They made example of cleaning the streets and guiding traffic in disciplined lanes. They showed how traffic law could be equally applied to Ministers, MPs, bureaucrats and police officers moving in vehicles without required papers. Where traffic police failed over the years being corrupt or afraid of charging powerful, they have succeeded.
This is what they have called for resistance against injustice and repair of the state machinery to ensure justice through a just government. But it appears that the government is already threatening students of danger that may befall upon them unless they immediately quit the streets. The Home Minister’s caution bears a message of action because the government is becoming restless as the agitation lands on its second week today. They are too eager to divert our children’s honest and sincere but heart breaking and yet sober yearning for change in the ways of neglecting life and humanity. The government is blaming involvement of BNP and others to justify police brutality. We ask the government not to use any force on students.
Meanwhile, halting of plying of buses by owners in inter-district routes blaming lack of safety and limiting the number in city streets are viewed by many as a tactics to put blame on students and instigate public anger. But students are not breaking vehicles and rather disciplining traffic inviting appreciation of the people despite the fact that they are suffering a lot. The students’ action is hurting bus owners and others habituated to breaking traffic laws and freely killing people.
We urge the government not to look for outside conspiracy as an excuse to justify their practice of using police brutality. We can’t support it and in the event of using force we hope the elders will come forward to the help of their children.
