During the last five years current government has not allowed the opposition alliances to gain any upper hand anywhere. Main opposition party and even the 14 opposition party alliance programs were basically toothless in front of a combined effect of governments determined suppression and general lack of popularity.
However the events during the last two nights in Dhaka streets have, for the first time, made government look helpless and out of ammunitions. The all powerful RAB, police equipped with newly imported riot gears, paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles were all deployed without much success in quelling the violent street protests. The vulnerability of the government machinery in front of people’s power was exposed.
Although, all what the protesters are doing are not endorsable, these protests are very timely reminder of people’s power.
And these protests are the real grading of governments job over the last five years. At the same time the people in the streets also show us that how an opposition, without people’s involvement and how the movements without the real issues are absolutely powerless and worthless.
Dhaka streets in last couple of days may have seen the ramification of the sins committed in a place called the “Hawa Bhavan” by a hollow headed prince and his evil cohorts.
I hope someday these same people will rise again with a more radical demand. The demand to free the country off the disconnected dynasty of two families.
It was 2nd Ramadan. I left the office at 4.00pm. I was trying to hire a CNG for returning home, which would cost me 5 times more than the normal bus fare. However, I failed to hire one. No CNG driver was ready to go to my destination and if they agreed, they demanded an abnormally high rate. So, I was forced to walk half a kilometre to Farmgate bus-stop. It was not easy to walk because the footpath was broken and many people already occupied the street. At last, I reached the bus-stop. It was a nightmare there. Almost every bus was packed up with lots of people hanging in the space. If some place to hang on was left and noticed by the waiting people, a competition to achieve the target started. Then after all the troubles when I returned home, I could see no light in my room as electricity was gone. Electricity came after the completion of “Iftar”. We experienced load-shedding again during “Tarabi” prayer for not less than one hour.
When electricity returned, the news at ten started. Within a few minutes, we were lucky to hear the voice of our prime minister demanding her re-election. Interestingly, she was not pointing her successes, but strongly mentioning failures of the opposition.
This may very well come to be seen as the turning point where the present government lost its legitimacy.
I was talking to a freind in Dhaka. He lives in Mirpur. I asked him how he was. He sighed and slowly said “Dosto, Life is becoming hell. It’s complete darkness”.
I like the header “real opposition”. No kidding. Who needs the opposition like AL who keeps walking out of JS?
When I see protesters throw big bricks at BRTC bus – a public property that was transporting passengers who obviously had some very good reasons to dare come out during Hartal – makes me want to call the protesters ‘morons’. But then I try to understand their frustration and desperation. How else would they protest? Who ever listened to them?
When I see a police person bleeding profusely (not the JCD caders that pretend to be cops and beat up their masters’ opponent) – I feel sorry for them. They are being played pawns in this deadly game. These are a part of the long-hour-low-pay workers’ group. Their bosses are tucked away in the safety of the home, and instruct them to “manage the situation”. Manage how?? By what means?
The funny part of the rage is the picture in the blog the (3rd picture)how old are these kids and what they know about protest?
Please have you ever seen you own brother, sister or any relatives other than being political activist protest any time during the hartal or break any property of the public or private or burn tyres?
What type of protest are these?Why from the age old political pracitice still going on?
Who will answer this can Mannan bhuiya or Jalil or Ershad can answer this to us?
Or can the new generation leaders of the two parties can answer this to us?
Are they ignorant to understand that this type of protest bring destruction to normal life and the public property.
When all this will end and the political problem would be solve inside the parliament with discussion and solutions would be rendered by both parties? Am I asking too much from my country?
I was unable to understand your comment. Can you clearly state in three sentence what is the point you are trying to make? You sound very much like our politicians who say 10 different things without making any point.
If you want to say these events are orchestrated by AL, say it clearly and loudly ..with guts. Not with innuendos. Also say how you came to this conclusion sitting in Arkansas, USA.
I am trying to make a point that the type of hartals which was always used against public by the political parties of our country only brings destruction to the public and private property.
No I am not saying any particular party I am saying all the hartals after Ershad regime.The question of guts Asif bhai Kawser Jamal has that and don’t worry you would see each and every part of it in years to come in Bangladesh.If I want to say something true about AWL and BNP I would do that in the broad day light in the face of million people. I am not talking from illusion. I am talking from experience and I walked those line in my life.
I have seen all these infront of my own eyes how the picketers were hired to create chaos and hostile situation during the hartals to make it a success both during BNP and AWL regime.
Yes I am just sitting in Arkansas for reason and preparing myself to face our new generation leaders and policy makers so I wouldn’t be cut short infront of them by any skills or knowledge or looks or education, but my heart and eyes and ears are always in Bangladesh.
Thanks I hope I could make you understand.