THE recent price hike of rice followed by acute fertiliser crisis has contributed much to aggravate the year long political unrest and the impasse created over the caretaker government issue. At least ten lives were lost in violent clashes at different places over distribution of fertiliser which Is an essential input for boro cultivation. Situation continued to deteriorate so much so that the government had to deploy army for its safe transportation. However, there has been little sign ol Improvement till now Such a predicament is no doubt unprecedented in this country.
The nation will have to experience another series of hartals — for four consecutive days — in the next week beginning Saturday After observing the Dhaka Siege programme of March 28. the Opposition has again called countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal on April 9 and 10 (Sunday and Monday) *lo drum up their demand for holding elections under non partisan caretaker government. Meanwhile, the Sramlk Karmacharl Oikya Parishad (SKOP) has announced its plan to. go for 48-hour strike all over the country from the morning of Tuesday (April 11) to realise professional demands of workers. This strike will virtually turn into hartal for another couple of days since workers and employees
of all the sectors are under the umbrella of SKOP an alliance of 18 trade union bodies. Left Democratic Front (LDF). a combine of eight left parties has also called a 12-hour hartal on April 1 I In support of its political demands including that of caretaker government and also to protest police atrocities on LDF activists
Therefore, the political scenario during the second week ol April is not beyond Imagination. If the strike programmes from Sunday to Wednesday remain unchanged, it will not be difficult to assume that the week will be a workless one simply affecting the normal social and economic activities.
Everyone — a commoner or a dignitary, a lay man or an ex-|>ert — perceives that the ongoing political stalemate has been leading the nation only to a disastrous situation. All are concerned and worried as well, about the existing political trend and the country's destiny. But It Is not clear whether the politicians, who decide our fate and future, feel concerned at all like the people If the politicians — both in
the position and In the opposition — were truly and equally concerned about the crisis, the stalemate over the caretaker government issue would not have persisted for more than a year now
The Opposition has been carrying on their hartal programmes and other agitations only because the dispute is stlH in .i limbo. True, the hartals
are being observed if called by a- major party or parties But the time is ripe enough for the opposition leaders to scrutinise the real extent of people s support -and also the claimed participation' in their agitational programmes. However, the government and the ruling party have no scope for com- , placency if the people’s 'real' feeling is taken into considers tion. There Is no reason for the people to be delighted at the
performance of the govern ment in handling the situation — both political and economic — nor they are wilfully taking any part in opposition prog rammes
It is unfortunate, but true, that the people now blame only the politicians (of both the camps) for the continued political Imbroglio They are the same people who wdre be-
hind the democracy loving political leaders and also fought undauntedly against the mill l ary-backed autocratic rulers. It is a proven fact in this land since long that people protected the politics and polili clans and, unfortunately, received least of it In return. It is the people and only the people who rallied behind the politicians in national interest and also spearheaded democratic movement The people
played such glorious role under the leadership of spontaneous democraUc forces as we have seen in 1954. 1962. 1966 1969. 1971 and lately in 1990
The bondage between democracy-loving politicians and the people Is undtvisible. When people’s confidence in politicians or political leaders diminishes it can easily be assumed that there is something wrong somewhere in the con cerned party or with the leader concerned The politicians guide the people and provide sense ol direction to the nation. If the guidance or the sense of direction is set on the right track the people he sitate little to go for any sacri flee to achieve the target. The people's role during J 971 and 1990 remains the brightest as
A politician Is not only a leader he also plays the role of a physician in political context, and greater as such If a physi clan makes a wrong diagnosis and provides wrong treatment to a patient, life of a person is at stake But. if a statesman is at fault in providing the cor-
rect guidelines, it would jeopardise the fate of a natfon. We would like to believe that our esteemed statesmen and political guardians are well-aware of that.
The statements and announcements made by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina on 29 December and 10 January respectively raised some hope for a possible reconciliation between the two warring sides. The proposals of the two leaders were consis tent In spirit, yet still there is no headway If they really desire. the two sides can sit together and discuss on the basis of the proposals made by the leaders themselves. And such a discussion can bring about the much-desired understanding between the ruling party and the Opposition.
Lack of understanding among our leaders has thrown the whole nation into a state of confusion and uncertainty The people eagerly look forward to see some light at the end of the dark tunnel Whatever be the fate of this unfortunate nation. one thing can be stated, wlthdlit hesitations Our statesmen and politicians are at an ordeal This, will reveal whether our leaders enjoy or will continue to enjoy the confidence of the people
Confidence of the people is the only asset of politicians and political parties. But it is often forgotten by many.