Home
+
The announcement of a three-day blockade after deaths in clashes centring a rally and a general strike triggers fears of more violence
Published : 30 Oct 2023, 03:08 AM
Fears of more violent confrontations have gripped Bangladesh with political tensions roiling after the BNP announced a three-day blockade following deaths in clashes centring its Dhaka rally and a subsequent shutdown.
The blockade, announced on Sunday and to start on Tuesday, is a grim reminder of the BNP’s similar monthslong programme during which more than 100 people died in firebombing of buses and other public transports after the 2014 elections boycotted by the party.
The BNP has once again threatened a boycott, demanding an election-time caretaker administration because polls under the Awami League will “always be rigged like the one in 2018”.
BNP activists, facing cases over past violence, appeared desperate. “We’re waiting for the next programmes to be announced by the party leadership. We’re ready to hold any sort of programmes,” said Sohrab Hasan, a local leader of BNP’s youth front Jubo Dal from Cumilla.
Farida Akter Bonya, a leader of Noakhali Mohila Dal, the BNP’s wing for women, said: “The government thinks it will stage a vote similar to the ones of 2014 and 2018 by arresting the leaders, but that won’t happen this time.
"Our back is against the wall. The outcome of the movement to oust the government will be determined on the streets.”
Amid the standoff just two months before the next election, the BNP enforced a general strike marred by deaths in clashes and torching of buses on Sunday after clashes left a police constable dead during its rally in Dhaka on Saturday. A BNP supporter also died allegedly during the clashes with police.
Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi tried to assure people of keeping their protests peaceful while announcing the blockade. In a virtual press conference amid arrests of leaders and activists over violence, he said: “We don’t believe in violence. We’ll go ahead with tough programmes within the democratic process.”
Analysts, however, do not feel reassured by Rizvi’s comments. Such a situation full of conflicts will continue for three months until after the election, believes Professor Sabbir Ahmed, general secretary of the Bangladesh Political Science Network.
The Dhaka University teacher said the government may take steps for talks to avoid giving a “third party” the opportunity to step in.
“Someone has to compromise. And it must be the head of the ruling party. But will they do it? The situation doesn’t indicate so.”
“If both sides remain uncompromising, people will suffer.”
Election observer Abdul Alim said it appears to him that the situation is heading to something like the one centring the 2014 polls.
“But in the current circumstances, shutdowns and blockades will have a negative impact everywhere.”
He said the two sides need to hold talks for a way out of the situation. “But they are not showing any signs of compromise.”
After a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, the Election Monitoring Forum has called for a dialogue to bring all the parties to the election.
“What we gathered is that the EC is a bit frustrated because its attempts to sit with the two sides for talks failed two times. If the EC can hold talks with them, many problems will be solved,” said EMF Director Abdul Jabbar Khan.
The Awami League says violent protests have unmasked the BNP again. “Burning people alive, torching vehicles, killing are old things for the BNP,” said Abdur Rahman, a member of the ruling party’s Presidium.
He also believes the public will turn their back on the BNP after seeing the party’s violent protests. “The killing of a police officer was carried out in a planned manner. It is what they do.”
[Writing in English by Osham-ul-Sufian Talukder]
