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Currents and Crosscurrents

Dream? Or, Do We Continue to Daydream?

by M M Rezaul Karim
***What actions the two major political parties can take in a bid to remove the current predicaments Many solutions can be advanced It is easy to preach, but difficult to practise. The hardliners on both sides are too active to allow the moderates to sway the pendulum in their favour.***
A small news item appeared in the press a few days ago. In small Knt the headline stated that elkh Hasina thanked Begum Zia Normally, while browsing through newspapers, one is used to glancing the headlines first. But the glancing eyes immediately stopped glancing They became glued Irie small prints carrier big news. The present Prime Minister thanked the former Prime Minister for laying the foundation stone of a health complex building at Tungipara. the birthplace of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu-Jibur Rahman Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the complex, which had been founded by Begum Zia The former reaped the harvest but the seed was sown by the lat-
The nature and content of the news were so different from the mainstream news of the present day that it became a special treat to the unaccustomed eyes. One of our respected leaders is appreciating a good deed done by another respected leader. The happenings of the past few years, marked by bitter acrimony against each other, belled everyone’s hopes for expecting such a positive, pleasant turn. Or. is it a turn or a mere passing remark Though it may not be a turn per se. one does not like to believe that it is only a casual expression signifying nothing.
The small incident is fraught with great significance It is an eye-opener to several
important facets of our present political situation. Firstly, it proves that our leaders can still rise to the occasion and be thankful to each other, even in the midst of storms of mutual accusations and recriminations. Secondly, recognition of the act of a good deed by the principal political opponent testifies not only to tne value Judgement of the issue, but to the political courage it demonstrates. Thirdly, it demolishes the allegations that our leaders act mostly for the welfare of their own people and neglects to promote tne well-being of the opponent. Finally, it encourages the optimist to nurture hopes for an eventual composition of differences and to usher in a better future for the nation.
The will and ability of our political leaders to show a good turn to one another do. therefore. exist. What is needed is to translate them into action. The public can then be reassured, repose some of the lost confidence in their leaders and look forward to the days ahead with some degree of hope and optl mism. We may recall of lew other incidents of similar nature.
Following the last Mayoral election in Dhaka city, a near unprecedented scene was witnessed Having lost the election.
BNP's incumbent Mayor. Mirza Abbas, was seen feeding sweets to his victorious opponent. Awami League s Mohammad Hanif. The action marked a significant step, which brought the two arch rivals together An atmosphere of peace and cooperation was generated and they buried their hatchet after a bit ter fight in their quest for democracy.
Another instance may. perhaps. be cited When BNP Chair-
person Begum Khaleda Zia sent a bouquet of flowers congratu lating the President of the Awami League Sheikh Hasina on her victory in the June 1996 election. I am sure similar other instances will be available which demonstrated the will and ability of our leaders to reiterate faith In democracy and their determination to work for it.
The present impasse In the political arena has been caused by the abstention of BNP legislators from the current session
of the Parliament The BNP had come out with a list of demands to be met by the ruling party in order that meaningful and effective discussions can be held in the legislature The Awami League insists that the issues relating to the demands and allegations can be best advanced on the floors of the Parliament The BNP reports about discrimination against BNP legislators during the conduct of the Par liament s business They are
deeply concerned about harassment. arrests on false charges as welj as torture and killings of BNP leaders and workers There is hardly any BNP legislator who has been spared of trumped-up charges and they had little time and desire to work In the Parliament, while remaining busy with matters relating to false police cases A list of allegedly false cases has been furnished by the BNP to the government with the hope these will be withdrawn The government response Is yet
to come
The bitter attitude of the opposition has since been accentuated further by another measure undertaken by the government Street rallies and demonstrations have suddenly been banned Places for holding political meetings and rallies have been made limited and earmarked in specified areas. Manchas or platforms on streets have also been proscribed. One may note that it was the street rallies and manchas staged in prohibited areas by the Awami League that made major contribution to the changeover of power in favour of the Awami League. What was proper and legitimate then is now forbidden and constitutes a sacrilege, according to the Awami League.
In the same vein, one may argue that the BNP is also resorting to the tactics which they themselves had condemned before. notwithstanding their claim to act under compulsion and duress On the other hand. BNP deplores government policy of disrupting peaceful opposition rallies by way of actions by armed hoodlums followed by police action. Even gathering of people in front of their office to start an orderly procession was thwarted by police brutally and by violent means BNP now
finds their peaceful and orderly means of voicing protests are being taken away forcibly by the government, hence their democratic rights are being denied.
What actions the two major political parties can take in a bid to remove the current predicament? Many solutions can be advanced. It is easy to preach, but difficult to practise. The hardliners on both sides are too active to allow the moderates to sway the pendulum in their favour. The BNP wants a congenial atmosphere to be established in order to instill confidence and generate cooperation by all. both inside and outside the Parliament. Some of the demands can perhaps be met more easily and others, representing substantive policy differences, may form part of subsequent discussions in a positive climate. But releasing those who had been arbitrarily detained and withdrawing charges against whom false cases have been instituted rank the first priority. Besides, what does prevent the government from rescinding the order of omitting the name of the late president from the Zia Internationa] Airport and restoring the bailey bridge in its old place allowing people to go to Zia's mazar? There exist such other avoidable irritants removal of which will certainly pave the way to creating an atmosphere congenial to the solution of many of our current national problems.