Letters To The Editor
Tools of violence in governance
Peaceful hartal is a democratic right, especially in developing or flawed democracies as in the case of Bangladesh, but no one in good conscience can agree that enforcing hartals through violence is a democratic right. The pre-hartal violence that has been inflicted on the country recently can definitely be considered criminal offence and need to be dealt with accordingly. What is more frightening is the widespread use of bombs in the arsenal of picketers in enforcing hartals. Pictures of those hurling bombs at buses and other vehicles suggest that they are enjoying their work.
In the fifties, we participated in political processions with hand bands and leaflets. Police killing of four students led to the fall of the then East Pakistan government and subsequent routing of Muslim League in 1954 election. Almost 60 years later, the same political processions have become so violent, so destructive. Many of our generations have already left this world and those of us remaining will leave soon. We appeal to our younger compatriots to beware of violence and especially tools of violence in political governance.
Dr. A. T. Rafiqur Rahman
Retired Professor and United Nations Officer
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments