Editorial
Clashes at the National Memorial
Utterly reprehensible
We note with deep sense of anguish the clashes that occurred at the National Memorial on the national day. The morning of 26 March at the Memorial was denigrated by the three-way clashes within the BNP as to which group should be the first to receive begum Zia which was followed by clashes between the AL and BNP supporters, after the President and PM had left the Memorial as to who should be the first to lay wreath and, not to be left out of the news, the Jatiyo Party factions locked horns with each other as to who should be the first to receive General Ershad.
The net result was more than the 25 public and private vehicles damaged as a result of the clashes during which time the police were mute spectators for some inexplicable reasons. The significance of the day and the solemn environment that should have been the general order of things were severely tarnished by the insensible and loutish behaviour of the political activists of these parties. One wonders who should pay for the damaged vehicles and property. And we wonder why the situation could not be controlled before it escalated when the area was brimming with law enforcing agencies.
We fail to understand why politics has to be dragged into every national event and why the common people who want to observe the day with due dignity and respect should be denied the right to do so without being hampered by the goons of these political parties. And why should a matter of the sequence of entering the Memorial, or who should receive the party boss first, should become so important as to involve the party activists in activities that mar the sanctity of one of our most important national days.
It seems that the political parties are losing control of their followers. It must be made clear that pubic places cannot be hogged by political parties. The common man has as much right of access to it first as the party followers if not more. The National Memorial for a certain period of the morning of March 26 this year did not appear to be so.
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