THE leaders of BNP at Chittagong appear caught in an intriguing situation. A gang of lungi-clad people, mostly young, has been posing problems for pro-hartal activists in particular. These people are creating situations, which obviously are not to the liking of the BNP leaders and they have asked for police help against the members of the 'lungi bahtni,' (lungi force) as they are identified. BNP leader Mir Nasir's request for help has been acknowledged by the Officer Incharge of Kotwali thana. These people have become a pain in the neck for the opposition as they carry on rampage during the hartal on their own without caring for the Instruction of the leaders. They take food in the restaurants without paying bills and the owners don't complain for fear of reprisal. The situation has become so menacing that the opposition did not bring out procession from Laldighi Maidan after the public meeting to avoid these people. They have also been alleged to have actively participated tn destroying a large number of garbage carrying trucks of the Chittagong City Corporation. This will create conservancy problem in the noH city in the coming days to the detriment of public neolth and sanitation.

The question that automatically comes into mind is: who are these people? Only in the recent past we have read about the retaliatory story of dumping garbage in front of the former mayor's residence. And it was clear who masterminded that filthy feat. Is the present situation a creation of the same coterie to discredit the opposition? The role these renegades are playing can only cause tremendous damage to their mentors and in final analysis this apparent tactic of spoiling opposition's movement by creating public health hazards may take its own toll much to the detriment of the interest of the party in power.

Since the opposition has disowned these questionable characters and complained to the police, we hope the law enforces will take proper cognisance of their offences and take proper action without fail. Any dilly-dallying on their part can give rise to fresh suspicion about their real identity.