Editorial
Carnage at city centre
Opposition flexes muscle and government pre-empts probe
Vivid pictures of pitched battles between picketers and law enforcers at the heart of the commercial district of Dhaka flashed across Television sets on April 19-20 as the BNP activists went on the rampage that saw senseless destruction of public and private property has shocked this newspaper, as well as millions of peace loving people of the country. The fact that nearly 30 policemen sustained varying degrees of injury and even media persons and their vehicles did not escape some form of assault goes to show both the ferocity of the attack and points to the fact that adequate preparations for such an outcome had been well thought prior to the incident.
Whilst we are all alarmed by the disappearance of a local BNP leader, we are equally alarmed to see the rampage of hundreds of so-called 'party' activists create anarchy in the name of protest. The fact that homemade bombs have been used to create terror sends a chill down the collective spines of citizens across the land. The message that has been delivered is both clear and loud. We must observe Sunday's hartal or face BNP's wrath.
We condemn this violence and the strong-arm tactic utilised by the opposition. However, we also watch in dismay how the prime minister orders a probe into the disappearance of Mr. Ilias Ali while simultaneously insinuates that the BNP chairperson has ordered her man to go into hiding -- and all this on the very same day. When such contradictory messages are uttered by none other than the honourable PM herself, does it not show the farcical nature of the probe ordered?
This paper has repeatedly stressed on the need to establish proper investigation into criminal events. In any democracy, the rule of law is a fundamental requisite to good governance. The manner in which the political scenario is evolving, where violence is propagated by one party in opposition that is met with an equally harsh response by another party in power bringing into play all the considerable resources available to the State, forebodes a very dangerous time for democracy. A democracy devoid of rule of law as shown by both the ruling party and the opposition is a democracy in trouble. We must all work together to avoid it.
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