Khaleda's call and public reaction
On 19 May Khaleda Zia called a dawn to dusk hartal for 27 June for what she called, electricity, gas and water for Dhakaites. In her public speech, she told the nation that the present government has done nothing during the last one year or so. The supply of electricity, water and gas that people are enjoying at present are her own legacy. This government has not added any unit of those utilities.
This clearly indicates that she has left a legacy of short supply and peoples' present sufferings are the result of her failures. So, calling for a hartal for adequate supply of above utilities is unnecessary blaming game.
The country's pundits have expressed mixed reaction on her hartal call. Dr. Akbar Ali, former adviser, has criticised Begum Zia for this untimely hartal call. He said that no such situation has been created in the country for which she could call hartal. He apprehended return of confrontational politics in the country. Prof. Muzzafar Ahmed, former chief of TIB, has said that "hartal" is a democratic right and anyone can exercise that democratic right at any time. My question is, can this right be exercised by anyone just for satisfying his/her personal ego or his/her ill feelings against his/her rival politicians?
I know, no one will dare to venture out on that day for his own security, because Khaleda's men will rule the Dhaka streets with sticks and arms and will break anything that moves. At the end of the day, Begum Zia will declare "a great success and thank the people" for compliance". Please tell us what should we feel about it at the end of the day. Please advise the politicians to exercise "democratic rights" in democratic manners. Every citizen has a democratic right and others have no right to deny it by using force.
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