**People are fed up with hartals.

Law enforcers should protect common people's rights and possessions; they should not use lethal weapons as it may unnecessarily invite more trouble. The government should take firm steps to control any unruly elements.***

These are indeed awkward times for Bangladesh. The common man is bewildered about the turn of events. First

there was the raging debate about caretaker government or an all party interim government between the Awami League and the opposition BNP. A series of hartals and rallies and protests and counter protests punctuated his daily life. He persevered and waited for good sense to prevail on both sides; for things to resolve themselves. But this is yet to happen.

Just as things got worse, another and more vicious cycle of controversy and violence took over. This time it is around the issue of trial of persons indicted for crimes against humanity during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971.

As part of the election pledge by the ruling AL, the government constituted an International War Crimes Tribunal and at the first stage incarcerated seven prominent individuals belonging to two political parties, the Jamaat-e-Islam and the BNP to face charges. After several legal and procedural hiccups the Tribunal finally got down to hearings in two Courts. So far three persons accused of the crimes have been tried and verdicts passed. The first person was tried in absentia and given a death sentence.

The second individual was given a life sentence. It was this sentence that raised eye-brows among a section of the youth. They felt aggrieved and expressed their resentment by mobilising their adherents through the social media to gather over the last twenty seven days or more in Shahbagh square in Dhaka and raise slogans against the verdict.

This gathering caught the imagination of millions within the country as it also revived the spirit that inspired people in 1971 to fight the War of Independence.

It is the latest verdict, on the third

accused; it has caused consternation among a couple of political parties. A death sentence has been passed on him. But he belongs to the Jamaat-e-Islami party. This sentence has brought out a number of young people belonging to the student wing of the Jamaat who have turned violent and in protest are announcing political programmes.

So today we have in the country two viewpoints that are claiming our attention. One, which is imbued with the spirit of our Independence and seeking justice for crimes committed by some in 1971 and the other is the one is reacting to the court verdicts that have passed sentence on those who violated the 1971 spirit.

Last Friday, the main opposition BNP spoke about the prevailing situation and expressed the view that the trials underway in the Tribunal are not of the high standards desired. Its verdicts are deemed controversial. It lent its support to the political programme laid out by the Jamaat-e-Islami to protest holding the trials.

There is no doubt that the people at large are quite fed up with hartals (work stoppages) and the violence in the streets. They are apprehensive about the future. Businesses are seriously worried. The image of the country abroad is also of great importance. Bangladeshis are increasingly being connected to the world. They cannot afford an international perception that tells that the country is ill-managed and is mired in political troubles.

It is in this context that we need to tell some inconvenient truths. We hope those who think about the good future of the country may listen.

At the outset, it is important that in the International Crimes Tribunal the prosecution team must be able to present water tight case against each accused. Unless that is ensured, there will always be questions about a possible miscarriage of justice. The prosecution should be able to come up with credible witnesses who can face tough cross examination.

The crimes are alleged to have been committed more than 40 years back. Evidence and eye witnesses

to rush things. Of course we hear of prosecution witnesses being threatened and even disappearing. The government should consider a programme of safe houses for such witnesses so that they remain safe till they appear in the trial. No political consideration should be allowed to rush the trials. It will not serve the public interest in the long-run.

Second, the Jamaat is still a registered political party. The activities of its members should not in any way shame the party. Of course it is difficult to blame the party for actions which it sympathisers may do. But when it comes to burning the national flag or desecrating the Shahid Minars, the party must look into these seriously. If the party is still not ready to reconcile to what the majority of the people want, it may lose whatever support it has already. TV footages should help to identify those who were out to rampage, hurt innocent bystanders and damage public and private property and dishonour the flag.

The law enforcing agencies have their own duties to perform. They cannot allow any damage to public and private properties. They also cannot allow physical attack on anyone, even if it is a bystander or an activist belonging to any political party.

However the law enforcers at all times must exercise restraint and at the first opportunity apprehend the trouble-makers and book them under the law. Law enforcers must not use lethal weapons as it may unnecessarily invite more trouble. But in their self-defence they must go by their books. The government must take firm steps to control unruly elements, who incidentally

could be paid agents with a separate agenda.

It must be remembered that both the government and the main opposition have to contest the next elections. The electorate is watching closely and are collecting impressions on how the various political parties behaved to keep things calm.

The youth in Shahbagh are playing an important role to keeping up the spirit of Bangladesh independence. No political or political group should try to interfere and impose their agenda on them. Let the youth urge, appeal and cajole in the name of Bangladesh to have fair trials and sound verdicts. They have every right to do so. Why should roving bands of criminal elements try to disrupt their gatherings?

But the youth must not in any way give the impression that they call the shots in the country. Let them not forget that there is a democratically-elected government in place and any action it takes must be answerable in parliament and in the courts of law. The government is therefore accountable to constitutional bodies. The youth must continue to show respect to the institutions of state in the pursuit of their goals.

In the life of a nation, there are moving times when history and realities clash. It is then the job of leaders, especially political leaders, to show the way forward. Any action that divides a nation however right, the causes should be abandoned in favour of action that can unite its citizens. This is what posterity will claim and which our present leadership must deliver.

The writer Is a former Ambassador and a regular commentator on contemporary issues. E-Mail: ashfaque303@gmail.com