Eminent citizens seek tolerance for sustainable peace

Though peaceful political programmes both by the ruling Awami League and out-of-parliament opposition BNP on January 5 have brought some sort of relief in the public mind, political analysts think sustainable peace depends on tolerance.

They said peace would remain elusive if the two political camps fail to move ahead with positive politics with BNP correcting its course by learning from its mistakes and the ruling party "providing space" to its opponents.

Prominent intellectual Prof Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman of Dhaka University (DU) said, "It seems that the country's political situation has improved following a peaceful rally of the two parties in the city on January 5.

"I think practicing tolerance by all sides is now the only way to sustain it."

Professor Emeritus Dr Serajul Islam Choudhury of DU said maintaining peaceful politics in the country now mainly depends on the government's role and actions.

"The government, alongside protecting its power, must allow the opposition to carry out their political activities and exercise their democratic rights so that they can reach people to express their views and thoughts.

"But, the opposition will have to use this political space judiciously," he said.

Mentioning that the opposition is now in a weaker position as they are neither in power nor in parliament, he said if the government now does not allow the opposition to hold rallies and other programmes then democracy would not exist.

"Multiparty democracy is the best way, but we now need at least a two-party democracy," he said.

Former DU vice-chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said political stability in the country depends on the goodwill of the two parties.

"Both Awami League and BNP should play a positive and responsible role. Their leaders should shun provocative remarks against each other to maintain peace and a democratic atmosphere," he said.

Emajuddin also urged the intellectuals to play a positive role by giving political parties good suggestions through their columns and articles to encourage them to exercise democratic principles.

Former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said the peaceful programmes of the two major parties in the city indicated a positive change in politics.

"I hope this situation will prevail throughout the year. But, the government should allow the opponents to carry out their normal political activities to maintain peace," he observed.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Hanif said, as a democratic political party, their party wants all parties to carry out their programmes peacefully in a democratic a manner.

"We will cooperate if the opposition parties carry out positive and constructive politics. But we will not allow any anarchy, violence and killing of people in the name of politics," he said.

He said their party never obstructed any party's peaceful programmes.

BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman said their party always wants to practice positive politics in a peaceful and democratic way but the government obstructs their democratic programmes and resorts to repressive acts.

"A political negotiation is crucial for stability in the country. We have repeatedly called upon the government to engage in talks for a political understating so that we all can work for the country together, but it goes unheeded," Noman said.