Militancy issue in RCC election
This letter is in response to the news item published in your daily on August 03, 2008 regarding Rajshahi City Corporation election candidates' reluctance to express a firm stance on militancy issue during their campaign.
AL backed candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton defends himself by saying that he expects to draw large number of votes from BNP-Jamaat supporters which could swing if he talks too much against militancy and so it is better not to talk about this issue. Surely he has preferred votes to the spirit he professes to have. His reticence is tantamount to being lenient to the militants. The AL frequently claims to be on the pro-liberation axis of Bangladeshi politics. If he isn't determined to convince the voters of his message, then what's the point of his becoming a candidate ( and ultimately winning)? Islam doesn't permit terrorism and militancy and he should have persuaded his voters in favour of him by getting across this message to them.
BNP-backed candidates Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul and Rezaunnabi Dudu showed lame excuses for their silence - none of their competitors has raised the issue, talking about the militancy issue would create disputes among candidates and will not bring them any positive results, rather it would impact negatively on their vote tally. How could they blatantly ignore the voters who bore the brunt of militancy during the last BNP-Jamaat regime and now want to know their stance on militants?
It's really frustrating that people of Rajshahi had to vote for a mayor without even knowing their chosen candidate's precise position on militancy issue.
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