The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Nazrul Islam Khan

The recent political scenarios prevailing all over the country in no sense can be accepted in a democratic society. The 9th parliamentary election terminated the regime of Army backed usurpers and established a new government with fresh expectations. But today the people in a perturbed mind observed no fundamental dissimilarity between the two in divergent respects. To eliminate any threat to the illegal regime the usurpers brutally addressed August 2007 countrywide students movement. A mammoth figure of students as well as respected teachers of universities were injured, detained and tormented in a merciless manner. The usurpers imposed restriction regarding publication of news concerning the movement and engaged in fake propagandas to refute Army's guilt as well as to shake moral pedestal of students. Unfortunately at present analogous belligerent approaches are ostensible on the part of AL government towards oppositions.

In fact, oppositions are ornaments of a democratic society and cooperation, assistance as well as criticisms aid to boost fragrances of democracy. But it is ruling party who is under prime obligation to construct sound atmosphere for better functioning of oppositions. If it fails to discharge the obligation in fair manner, there subsist no scope to censure oppositions. Most probably the mindset not to endure any criticism is one of the major hindrances to attain a sound relation between the two. Such tendency is so perilous that it may even guide a government to exile oppositions and establishes one party ruling that is evidently obliteration of democracy.

The last Army backed usurpers committed everything to scratch BNP and with ulterior motives created paramount stress on Khaleda Zia, chairperson of BNP, to leave Bangladesh. The motive was perceptibly ousting the nationalist powers of the land. After establishment in state's power through a suspicious victory AL regrettably continues such evil practices.

During the calamitous Peelkhana revolt AL government did not reckon any necessity to consult with oppositions or even allies of Grand alliances. Due to failure of government a huge number of Army officers were assassinated in merciless manner. When the prime minister after the carnage met with Army officers in cantonment she faced countless questions as well as unprecedented words because of her immature actions although AL leaders offered her a new designation for a 'peaceful' solution of the incident. However, although AL abandoned BNP and minor oppositions throughout the rebellion but choose the chairperson's resident to build flats for the families of Peelkhana martyrs. Recently it is learn that Khaleda Zia may be arrested for a charge of sedition as she articulated that AL government should terminates before fixed period. But it is at present an established principle of law that words against government in no sense constitutes offence of sedition. Sedition is a distant offence. However, it is unjust to assume that people already abandoned the declaration of then Secretary of AL named Abdul Jalil fixing extinction time limit i.e. 30th April, 2004 of BNP led alliance government. It needs to be noted that Sheikh Hasina, Supreme leader of the party, approved the dead line. If the utterance of BNP chairperson constitutes sedition then Abdul Jalil and those who approved the pronouncement must not be escaped from identical criminal liability if rule of law prevails.

Now it is apparent that the government not merely desired to oust Khaleda Zia from the resident but from politics and the country.

In fact, Zia's family, central point of BNP is real target of the government. That's why, when it is learned that Tareq Rahman shall return Bangladesh in December government without delay filed new charges against him just to prevent his arrival.

The government is on tough stripe against oppositions and everyday many leaders and activists of oppositions are charged, detained and tortured in police custody. The roles of AL leaders and activists are momentous in this respect. Particularly injustice shall prevail if BCL, students wing of ruling party, remain ignored. Recently in Rajshahi, a divisional town, BCL engaged in clashes with rival students wing and at one stage they ransacked a hospital where many people including patients were injured. Even a baby just age of two hours was wounded and consequently experienced the aggression of ruling party simultaneous with the light of earth.

In fact, AL already ensured supreme ascendancy almost all over the territory by ejecting oppositions. If it remains uninterrupted it shall not be startling if it leads the state to one party ruling. Although it is true that a massive figure of people favoured AL but it should be remembered that they are not prepared to endure one party ruling.