Editorial
Opposition hartal call
Maximum restraint is the need
The call by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies in the four-party alliance for a day-long hartal on June 5 only ratchets up the political temperature in the country. Coming on the heels of the prime minister's emphatic 'no' to a continuation of the caretaker system in light of the recent Supreme Court pronouncement on it, the hartal can only create new complications for the country. We have already stated our position on the caretaker system through this column. Where hartals are concerned, we have consistently advocated a doing away with them in the larger interest of the nation. It has long been our view that the most appropriate forum for a discussion of political issues, major or minor, is the Jatiyo Sangsad.
We feel that nothing should be done that can only add to the miseries of citizens. Both the ruling party and the opposition should go out on a limb to exercise maximum restraint in their pursuit of politics, keeping in view the overall welfare of a citizenry already reeling under a multiplicity of issues affecting their day-to-day existence. The matter of the caretaker system of government is a hugely serious one and we cannot afford to have it dealt with lightly by either the governing party or the opposition. Let the entire matter be placed before the JS and let the BNP join the session in order to advance its arguments in favour of the system. The people of the country must feel convinced that their political leaders are seized of the critical nature of the issues facing them.
We take this opportunity to remind our political leadership across the spectrum that in the past, especially when they have gone to power, they have drawn attention to the negative effects of hartals on the economy. The BNP was in power for a good length of time. We are certain it understands the blow hartals can give the economy. We therefore urge it to rethink the issue and consider seriously a purposeful return to Parliament in the larger national interest. Politics being a high calling, it simply cannot be left to the streets when a parliamentary system of government remains operative.
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