Editorial
We are disappointed, deeply concerned
Hartal can't bring Ilias back, independent investigation may
After three consecutive days of hartal centered on disappearance of BNP's organising secretary Ilias Ali and four days of unsuccessful manhunt by the government to trace him out, BNP is literally enforcing its ultimatum. It has called for two consecutive days of dawn-to-dusk hartals preceding May Day, a holiday. In effect, only two working days are left of the whole week. This is extremely unsettling for a nation yet to recover from the shock effect of consecutive three days of hartal as the trepidation of an uncertain future grips us all.
In its ultimatum the opposition had mentioned 'tough' programme to follow if its demand for return of Ilias and his driver were not met. One would have thought that BNP which had been sparing with hartal calls and appreciated all around for the same, would stop short of calling for countrywide shutdown and yet retain a tough posture through an alternative programme. We hoped four days of search and rescue operation would also have been a time for reflection, and sobering and realistic appraisal of where the untying of the knots stood.
If 'return' of Ilias Ali is the sole agenda for the opposition, should it not have allowed reasonable time span to the government for tracking down his whereabouts and ensuring his safe return? Rather than rushing things as it has. The opposition is capitalising on Ilias' disappearance without caring to cooperate with the government which had asked for it. After all, it is the government machinery which will have to be relied on to rescue Ilias Ali.
For the government's part we have to say that investigation has been quite inept and regrettably it has lacked direction and credibility. We also recall the fact that the PM herself accused the opposition of masterminding the 'disappearance' thereby diluting the purpose of the investigation.
While we call upon the opposition to desist from further hartal we demand of the government to institute an impartial and credible investigation under the auspices of an independent authority .
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