WE are sorry, this is no laughing matter that the by-election to Meherpur-I constituency took place entirely as a ruling party show, the opposition having wholly boycotted it. As if to highlight the tragi-comedy of this one-sided affair even a component of the government, the JP led by Communications Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, stayed away in a huff, just two days before the election, over allocation of symbols.

As the first by-election ever to be boycotted by the opposition en bloc the Meherpur poll has set a record in the negative that cannot be trifled with. Earlier the opposition might have said they would not participate in a certain by-election or two but this time they have converted their threat into a reality. What they have ensured thereby is that the by-election has just gone through its motion without being meaningful at all. In a microcosmic way we are reminded of the totally farcical election staged on February 15, 1996 with what consequences everybody knows too well to need a recap of. We are not suggesting that the situation is as bad as that right now but certainly the non-participa-tory character of Meherpur polls and the unrepresentative results thereof bode ill for the country.

This has been a tactical victory the opposition has been wanting to score over the ruling party by beating it in its own game. And there could be some more attempted in the future. Much that the ruling party could avert this predicament by timely engaging the opposition into talks to head off their boycott, the former gave its ego a free run to tumble into the opposition stratagem. What we don't like about the developing situation is the fast-track disappearance of chances for a dialogue. This is the time when politics starts becoming much too vulnerable to freaky and fortuitous turns for anyone's comfort and equanimity.

We suggest that opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia's mass procession on Monday demanding smooth supply of water, electricity and gas evoked a large measure of public support. The ruling party ought to take note of it and start a dialogue with her in deference to popular wishes. We think a dialogue should take place between the government and the opposition before the fast ap-proaehing point of no return is crossed.