Editorial
Vandalising a market!
What it has come to?
WE view the news of a group of pro-Awami League BCL activists damaging 15 shops at Gulshan-2 City Corporation market on Tuesday afternoon with consternation. The outrage must have been felt not only by the victims, but in a reflected sense, by the onlookers as well.
It was not a hartal-related incident; yet, it had a political ring to it. This is how it happened out of a petty cause and an avoidable tiff. It stemmed from a sense of arrogance of power and a feeling of being above rules and reproach. A private car carrying a BCL leader of Dhaka city north unit tried to enter the market premises through the exit in a cavalier defiance of a simple civic rule. As the security guard stopped the vehicle, three passengers including the leader allegedly beat him up.
Whereupon employees, guards and other drivers assaulted the BCL leader, going by the version of the security supervisor. Police intervention had a short-lived effect. On the same evening, some 50 youths apparently local BCL men armed with sticks freely vandalised the shops. The police had to open blank fire to bring the situation under control.
This is symptomatic of an inherent highhandedness on the part of ruling party student wing elements. Equally noticeable is the clannish nature of attacks and counter-attacks that have become part of the city life to the chagrin of city-dwellers.
The incident should be investigated and those who took law into their own hands should be penalised.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments