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STRAIGHT LINE

Brutalisation of Bangladesh polity

It is quite difficult for the saner and more sensible elements of the young population to join movements for social change. Since nature abhors a vacuum, it is only natural that the vacancy resulting from the unwillingness of the desired people is automatically filled in by the ill-motivated desperados.

MUHAMMAD NURUL HUDA
VIOLENCE of disturbing scale and dimension originating from political disputes has shocked citizens. Friends and well-wishers of our country are dismayed. To the discerning eye, however, the present scenario, though unfortunate, has not been unexpected because the forebodings and premonitions were there
As early as February 2005, experts in Bangladesh had raised the issue of establishing government’s credibility in dealing effectively with political crimes of different dimensions. Attention was also focused on taking
preventive measures towards countering conventional as well as political crimes and terrorism. It was explicitly stated that the subject of tackling political terrorism would assume major importance in the days to come Emphasis was laid on rethinking and reorientation of policy then pursued.
The grim reality, however, is that things have not altered positively. At present, statistics tell us that nearly 500 people died as a result of political violence in 2013; and the compounding tragedy is that since declaration of schedule of general election, 120 persons have died in election-related cl ashesin just thirty days.
One would not be naive to believe that political murders or casualties owing to political rivalries are only a recent
phenomenon. What, however, should worry all right thinking people is the gory nature of the mischief committed in 2013. The combatants have not rested after brutally beating the opponents to death in broad daylight, but have exhibited incredible bestiality by deliberately putting live human beings on fire.
The heart-rending wails of burn victims have not moved our stony politicians. The
tragedy is that while the ordinary folks have died in the violent acts the leaders have remained unscathed, thereby bringing to the fore the ugly and selfish contour of our politics.
The continuing politics ofconfrontation between the two major political parties has been further smeared by the addition of manifest ferocity and subversion of activists of Jamaat-e-lslami. Quite clearly, there has been an ominously distinct shift in the mode of political protest Whether it is the despotism of an obstinate establishment or the crippling desperation of the opposition that has brought us to the edge, there is no doubt that our supposedly pluralist existence is in real jeopardy.
The unbridled violence and consequent devastation caused by virulent Jamaat-Shibir activists, in Chittagong particularly, are cause for genuine concern. Quite curiously, while they are not causing inconvenience in Maheskhali-Kutubdia area, where Jamaat won a parliamentary seat in last general election in 2008, they are hyperactive in Lohagora-Satkaniaarea ofSouth Chittagong. Their mischief is manifestly diabolical in that they want to disrupt communication between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, thereby setting at naught the economic activities centering an internationally famed tourist spot. Similarly, they want to cripple the Dhaka- Chittagong road communication, which is the lifeline of Bangladesh's economy, by committing deliberate sabotage at Sitakunda. Quite clearly, these are violent acts of protest falling outside the purview of constitutional politics.
In early 2005, this writer observed that, without doubt, the death of former finance minister Mr. Kibria had ominous portents for budding politicians of the desired breed in the Bangladesh polity. The premonition is: Are we not creating a situation where half-educated brats with no commitment and compassion will occupy the centre stage of politics for a painfully long time? Cynical comments like "politics is the last refuge of a scoundrel" will gain credence if we fail to arrest the rising tide of violence and properly investigate the crime.
To recollect, political activities, partly on account of historical factors, have assumed a dominant agitational character. Over the years, since after liberation and more particularly during the anti-autocracy movement in the eighties leading to the fall of the military dictatorial regime in December 1990, political protests have demanded crude physical courage from the field level activists of the political movement As the dictatorial regime primarily depended on brute power and looked towards non-political quarters for its sustenance it did not bother about the excessive use of force by the state apparatus. It had no qualms in utilising dangerous goons to intimidate and if necessary liquidate political party workers and leaders. Sadly, a section of the law enforcement personnel turned out to be a willing partner in such patently illegal acts.
The political scenario became so desperate and menacing that only the very physically brave and intensely committed workers could dare to take to the streets to face the insensitive actions of a despotic government nearly bordering on megalomania.
Under circumstances as above, it is quite difficult for the saner and more sensible elements of the young population to join movements for social change. Since nature abhors a vacuum, it is only natural that the vacancy resultingfrom the
unwillingness of the desired people is automatically filled in by the ill-motivated desperados. The situation turns vicious and the training ground for constitutional politics witnesses detestable wheeling-dealing. Brawn takes precedence over brain at the formative years. No wonder, therefore, that our national level politics gets afflicted by this syndrome.
It is a sad commentary on our political reality that howsoever
eloquent we may be on the subject of freedom of speech, assembly and movement, we can be the worst of autocrats when, under a clear democratic dispensation, the government of the day would not allow assembly and protest gatherings of opposition political party to venture beyond the immediate confines of the party office. The untenable thing is that the government would not issue prohibitory orders restricting or banning assembly of persons, but would transmit verbal order to embarrassed law enforcement personnel to virtually quarantine the opposition elements in a limited space.
In an exasperating situation as above, there is a desperate and franticbid to defy the authority and such defiance requires lot of raw physical courage in addition to hardship and endurance Clearly, such functions can be effectively performed by those who have a greater gift of the brawn. These may sound funny but arefield realities with which the political operatives of the opposition are grappling. Breaking the ban or being able to defy the quarantine is considered a very important achievement. The goons are no small players in this game. One has to be in the thick of the happenings to feel the pulseofthe men, matter, and movements.
The major political parties were committed to institutionalise democracy, which has so far remained a pious wish. In acts of political violence and terrorism, controversies are bound to arise That should not blind the political-bureaucratic machineries of the state to take objective and unbiased steps that they are legally and morally bound to take for ensuring safety and security of all citizens. This is yet to be be visible.