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| Bangladesh |
| For the sake of the nation's future, the impasse has to end |
| 2015-02-08 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] Political leaders must heed the call being made today by members of the FBCCI for the government and BNP to peacefully resolve their differences. The past month has caused huge carnage and injury to innocent members of the public. The FBCCI's demonstration today is a reminder that blockades and strikes have also needlessly caused massive economic damage. For the sake of the nation's future, the mindless political impasse has to end. Both the government and BNP must step back from actions which prolong their deadly stand off. It makes no sense for the BNP to continually call hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... s and say they are only intended as peaceful protests, when it is clear that calls for blockades and strikes are giving license to senseless individuals willing to carry out sickening acts of violence. Calling a further hartal at this time shows a deep lack of concern for public safety and gives the government a further excuse to stand firm. It would be better advised to keep its civil disobedience strategy purely peaceful. This does not mean however that the government does not also share responsibility. By not allowing meaningful political space to the BNP and permitting it to hold peaceful rallies in the capital last month, the government's very high-handedness has helped bring this situation about. It is not sufficient for the prime minister to ask for more public support against violence, if the government does not itself work to calm the situation through its actions. If the government is to gain public support in the long term, it cannot both lock up BNP leaders and blame them for violence. It must use its authority to calm the situation through peaceful dialogue. The public needs all politicians to behave more responsibly. |
| Posted by:Fred |