Editorial
Call off hartal
Shun the practice for good
The BNP in its wisdom has again called a countrywide dawn to dusk hartal on 30th Nov to demand actions to resolve the miseries of the people, to save democracy and defend the country's interest, according to it. It is fully aware, we are sure, as the rest of us, that saving democracy or upholding the country's interest can never be achieved through hartal nor boycotting the parliament. Hartal will certainly not end people's miseries.
We are opposed to hartal in principle and we have said so every time a political party has chosen it as an option. It is counterproductive; instead of solving problems, it exacerbates the old ones and creates newer problems for the people.
When the BNP talks about people's miseries, or democracy or the country's interest, may we ask what new ideas or proposals has the party given to the country in the last two years? Has it been true to its election manifesto, we ask? May we remind what BNP's position was on hartal when it was in power. Are we to understand that when in power for the BNP hartal is illegitimate but a valid expedient when out of it? Is it justified to call for hartal just because it lost the last election? Is your hartal better than 'theirs?' We are constrained to say that calling the hartal is a knee-jerk reaction that betrays lack of sensitivity to public pulse.
There is no indication that the BNP has played its part of an effective and efficient opposition, or fulfilled the expectation of the electorate that voted for the party? There is very little thinking behind the policies it has adopted. What we hear are its bland criticism of government policies without anybody explaining the reason for the party to have taken a particular position on a particular national issue. That we feel stems from the one-person character of the BNP, with no internal democracy and all decision-making authority vested in one individual.
We fail to see any rationale for hartal, and only very recently we had implored upon the BNP leadership to abjure the path of hartal no matter what the provocations might be. One cannot miss the real motive, which we are certain, has had to do more with the eviction of Begum Zia from her cantonment residence than any of the pious intentions that the party has expressed. But embarrassing as the issue may be, does it justify putting the people in problem by calling hartal? It is even more bizarre given that Begum Zia has gone to court yesterday against her eviction before the disposal of an appeal on the matter pending with the Supreme Court.
An effective opposition offers alternative solutions to national problems instead of merely criticising. Hartal will not further BNP's cause; it will merely alienate the people from the party. Call off the hartal!
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