Blockade telling upon economy severely

WITH the countrywide blockade hitting its third day, we are in a situation that leaves Dhaka city largely disconnected from the rest of the country. Although BNP-led 20-party alliance activists could not field much of a show of force in Dhaka, there has nonetheless been an increase in arson attacks on vehicles that has gutted both passenger cars and buses. The latest move by authorities to give protection on highways for export-laden covered vans can only have a very limited success, given that thousands of such vehicles actually ply on various routes every day. The problem is one of both logistics and timing as escorts will change from district to district.

Any failure in coordination between the various district police forces will inevitably put such convoys at risk. It is little wonder that many bus and van owners have expressed anxiety over such plans. And it is not only that exports are threatened by the continuation of violence but the fact that inter-district buses are offline means thousands of passengers cannot communicate among the districts. That goods laden foodstuffs cannot get into Dhaka is sending prices in wholesale and kitchen markets on an upward spiral. In all, these are warning signals for the economy as a whole. Ad-hoc measures cannot normalise conditions. That can only be ensured if the political mercury is lowered in consideration of the primacy of the economy.