Violence has to stop right away

A group of eminent citizens yesterday called for immediate end to the ongoing acts of terror to pave the way for dialogue between the two major political parties of the country.

"Atmosphere for dialogue will not be created unless violence is stopped. Besides, it's an international practice that violence should be ceased before start of any such initiative," former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said on behalf of "worried citizens".

"Peace has to be restored first. To do so, petrol bomb attacks, violence on the streets and indiscriminate killing of common people will have to be stopped," he said during a press conference at Jatiya Press Club.

Enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance since January 6 over a dozen demands, including an early parliamentary election, the non-stop blockade has led to widespread arson and bomb attacks.

Over 70 lives have been lost with economy suffering a loss of Tk 2,877cr a day. Education has been hit hard too, especially due to shutdowns on top of the blockade. 

In this context, Huda on behalf of some civil society members sent letters to President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on February 9, requesting a national dialogue.

Clarifying their initiative, the former CEC at yesterday's presses conference said burning people alive in no way can be termed political activities.

"We have seen many movements in our life, but we have not seen killing people like this way in the name of a movement."

On the impact of blockade, he said economy would be destroyed if it continues to suffer every day. The rural economy is already on the verge of collapse. Farmers cannot sell their products, students cannot take their exams.

"It's not a matter of two or four days, we have passed 39 days already. How long will we wait?"

Huda said, "The violence must be stopped immediately…. And then a situation for a dialogue will be created."

Announcing the formation of a 13-member committee of professionals to push for the talks, Huda said, "We, the conscious citizens of the country, are gravely worried about the current situation. So we think that we need to play a role. And for this reason we got united.

"We did not get united to fulfil any agenda of any particular political party."

Huda, who heads the new platform, said they will hold further meetings to assess their initiative and sit with different professional bodies later.

He added, "The opposition who are carrying out the nonstop movement has to be assured that its grievances will be addressed. Without such assurance, it will not be encouraged to give up their movement."

Asked about bringing in the UN or any foreign mediator, he said this would not be something the nation would be proud of. "Why we will not be able to resolve our problems by our own?"

On a query about the modality of the proposed talks, Huda said they did not outline any proposal of their own.

"We urged them [President, PM and BNP Chief] to take initiative for dialogue. If the initiative is taken, then it's also up to them how they will move ahead. We, some professionals from outside, don't want to impose anything in advance."

Especially, they expect the president to take an initiative using his moral authority, Huda added. 

Five members of the committee -- former caretaker government advisers M Hafizuddin Khan and CM Shafi Sami, jurist Shahdeen Malik, ex-World Bank official Ahsan H Mansur and Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder -- were present at the press conference.

Former caretaker advisers ASM Shahjahan, Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Akbar Ali Khan, Rasheda K Chowdhury and Rokia Afzal Rahman, columnist Syed Abul Maksud and former BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Pervez are also in the committee.

On the formation process of the platform, Huda said their initiative took birth following their first meeting at a residence of a distinguished professional.

About excluding politicians from their platform, former CEC said there were some politicians from small political parties with the initiative at the primary stage.

"But after discussion among ourselves, we decided that political personalities will take separate initiative on their own to resolve the crisis as we want to work purely as professionals. Problems might be created if politicians and professionals jointly take any such initiative."

Asked about name of their platform, he said they are working on it.

ON CRITICISMS, ALLEGATIONS

Huda said those who are against dialogue should tell the countrymen about the alternative to put an end to the ongoing political deadlock.

He added they have taken the criticism by the PM and some ruling party men positively. "It means they are giving us importance."

"We will have to tolerate such bad mouth and criticism in the hope that something good will come out of our initiative."

Refuting the ruling party's allegations that they have advocated only for dialogue but did not raise their voice against the blockade violence, Huda said media did not highlighted the enclosures sent with the letters to the president, PM and BNP chief.