Copyright and Property of Faheem Haider
A man, Zakir Hossain has died and 100 others have been injured in a skirmish between the Awami League and the BNP. Members of the Awami League allegedly attacked BNP activists along the way to a BNP rally. The AL has already passed on the blame for the violence. The ambush was in response, claim AL leadership to an earlier set of incidents where the BNP ransacked AL local offices and assets.
The Daily Star reports:
“Witnesses said activists of Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League attacked the buses, minibuses and cars carrying BNP leaders and workers from different northern districts near Singra bus stand at about 11:00am. The BNP men were on their way to attend Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s rally in Rajshahi, reports a correspondent from Natore.”
“The ruling AL men vandalised 50 vehicles. A number of BNP men, including Zakir Hossain, were injured in the sudden attack.”
This is only the most recent inter-party clash, one of many that in recent days have morphed and shifted into every realm of politics. Consider that Begum Khaleda Zia is wrestling with a bench of the High Court over a petition that required Begum Zia to vacate a house in the Cantonment in favor of the army. She has twice entered a petition of no confidence signaling that she thinks she will not be accorded procedural or substantive justice in the case. And twice the petition has been rejected by the same bench of the High Court.
There are some who suspect political motives in the court’s rejection of the petition. This is hardly a far-fetched idea. But it does risk signaling that the judiciary is not free and separate from the executive as it is required to be in principle and in practice by the constitution.
Moreover, Begum Zia is take her anti-government mass public protests to the hilt. The Daily Star, again, reports:
“Describing the failures of the 16-month-old government in every sector, Khaleda during her speech repeatedly wanted to know from the huge gathering what should be the proper action against the government and the whole crowd replied in unison, “Andolon, Hartal, Oborodh [Protests, Movements, Strikes].”
“She said there is no alternative to wage movement right now to save the country and its people from the oppressive rule.”
Begum Zia has been claiming that the Awami League government has sold old Bangladesh’s sovereignty and security to India in exchange for investments in Bangladesh’s infrastructure and utilities sector. Moreover, any electricity or power Bangladesh might import will have been purchased at overly high prices. These are fantastical claims and whether and though their truth status is run through with questions and debate, the charges are politically grounded and meant to inflame her supporters and draw fire from the sitting government.
All that is to the good, as long as the protests and marches are conducted peacefully and in a manner of civility, with respect. The death of Mr. Zakir Hossain in the recent skirmish shows that wishing for civility in the games the Begums play is like playing right into a fool’s game.
