Bringing an end to road blocking culture

Road blocking seems to have become a common practice -- resorted to more often than not -- of demonstration and protest programmes that at times turn violent to the point of vandalism and street fight in Bangladesh. Despite limitless public sufferings created by such blockades, demonstrators could not care less. A blockade at an important intersection leads to further aggravation of the already unbearable traffic congestion at the spot with a ripple effect on nearby areas. The city's Shahbagh crossing has the record of being the most favourite spot for demonstrators. Sit-in demonstration by postgraduate private trainee doctors was the latest incident of road blockade at this hotspot, as The Financial Express reports.

But Shahbagh is not the only such place. Other important spots that demonstrators choose most of the time are Nilkhet crossing, Farmgate, Agargaon and Mirpur 10 intersections - to name just a few. Sometimes busy road stretches are also occupied by agitators. It is almost common in all street movements that roads are blocked to stop traffic movement and, in a frenzy of rage, agitators resort to breaking windshields of motor vehicles and even set some of those ablaze to force traffic movement to a grinding halt.

Peaceful picketing to realise demands is a legitimate right of the citizens. But while exercising own rights, one should not violate or encroach upon others' right to safety and movement. But in almost all cases people's rights are constantly violated; office goers cannot reach office in time, workers to workplaces, even patients to hospitals and examinees to exam halls. Today the situation has reached a level when political parties and other professional groups cannot think of demonstration without blocking roads. Adverse impacts of this queer method of movement on economy hardly need elaboration.

Now the question is, why and how such a horrifying culture of road blockade and vandalism in the name of demonstration could develop in the country. A number of socio-political factors led to the rise of this tendency over a long period of time.

At times workers, peasants and students as well as other professional groups may feel the urge in expressing their grievances and placing demands for consideration to the authorities concerned. Representative bodies serving their interests can organise opinion and put them in proper ways to competent authorities for redressal. But very often they are unorganised and do not have any such organisation. They can bring out processions, organise peaceful demonstration and mass meetings and even stand on roadside with placards in hand. But there is hardly an instance in the country where the authorities paid heed to peaceful movements and addressed people's grievance.

In absence or limited scope for trade union activities and a lack of space for mass meetings, the other options open to people is to come down to the streets to demonstrate and chant slogans. But in case they do not find solution to their problems, they opt for tougher movements including such destructive methods as blocking roads to stop traffic movement and even resorting to vandalism - all for drawing attention of the authorities. Political parties were the first to introduce such aggressive methods of movements in the country. Now it has become a trend, a practice and a tradition for movements here.

Only full-fledged democratic culture pertaining not only to political arena but also to day-to-day life and activities of the entire population can bring a lasting solution to the road blockade culture. Aggrieved groups should be allowed to vent their grievances in a peaceful manner, while authorities concerned must have to pay attention to people's miseries and address them.

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