Editorial
Avoid confrontation at all costs
Time for engagement
FOLLOWING presentation of formulae for election-time government by both the ruling AL and the opposition BNP, people have naturally been expecting a settlement of the prevailing political dispute. But with reports that, apart from Dhaka, the police have come down heavily on opposition BNP's political programmes in Chittagong, Barisal, Bogra and other places, such expectations have been dashed. It appears, a security blanket has been extended across the entire country.
When the national election is round the corner, such about-face by both the ruling and the opposition parties is most unfortunate. They are distancing themselves further from each other when they should actually have been drawing ever closer.
Two things were most desirable from the government and the opposition. First, stopping of vicious political diatribes hurled at each other; and, second, giving the opposition its legitimate space so it may voice its protests and demands.
But on the pretext of containing possible violence centring around the opposition's October 25 rally, the government has in effect clamped down on the basic democratic rights to meet and assemble. This is unacceptable.
Now declaring that BNP would defy the police ban and hold the rally, the tension has only mounted. And it would be a prescription for disaster, if AL moves to resist opposition's rally, as it has threatened it would, for what it said to prevent anarchy.
We hope sanity will prevail. It is advisable that both parties give up their hostile postures and lend each other an ear in the greater interests of democracy and of holding a credible national election.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments