Political violence has become pervasive in Bangladesh and part of our life. Political agitation is not new here, but it has now acquired a new dimension which is perhaps both brutal and dangerous. Who does pay the price? Of course, the common people who are killed or injured or face economic losses.
During the last year, media reported on aggressive pickets hurling crude bombs or torching buses, auto rickshaws, paddle rickshaws or trucks which were common incidents. But the most terrifying scenes were perhaps the burn injuries to innocent people, including children.
Bangladesh's economy suffered heavily in the last year due to so many hartals and blockades enforced by opposition parties. An estimated 507 people died in political violence, including clashes with the police and rival political parties, bomb attacks etc. Truck drivers died in road accidents as pickets chased them, bomb explosion killed some of the bomb carriers, law enforcers were killed at the hands of pickets, activists of rival parties cut the veins of hands and legs. Al these were very common forms of death due to political violence in Bangladesh.
A person feels insecure during agitation hours and on the eve of a strike as common people often come under attacks. Picketing was so violent that they even set school buses and dozens of police vans on fire. Media reports that over 22,507 people, including small boys and girls, were injured by indiscriminate bomb blasts or arson attacks in the recent hartals and blockades. Aggressive pickets did not even spare women workers of the readymade garment factories, office goers, teachers, rickshaw-pullers or day labourers. They want to enforce a total shut-down during hartals.
Common people question "why we are killed, are we in politics anyway"? The poor lament "we have become the victims of politics". They never get priority to activities of the political parties. If it is, for whom the politics is? For whom the leaders are? Do political people ever think about the violence and killing of innocent people during political agitations?
Protesting government's decision is legal in democracy but enforcing it on those who are non-political entities is a crime. Political violence causes sufferings for common people which have a little impact on the parties. We are falling victim to the fight between political parties. Killing people cannot be a way to do politics. Political party and leaders should play an active role in preventing violence by their supporters, including against the security forces.
The security forces should respond to protests in accordance with international law enforcement standards, only using force when strictly necessary. Leaders have a responsibility to do all they can to keep their protests peaceful. When their members commit crimes, political leaders need to cooperate with the authorities to ensure punishment for those. The government should publicly order the security forces to follow the UN Basic Principles on the 'Use of Force and Firearms' by law enforcers. Security forces should apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms, and whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials should exercise restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and minimise damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life. Pre-election violence has already cost too many lives in Bangladesh. Only responsible leadership can bring an end to this senseless loss of life.
shahana_bilkis@yahoo.com
Political agitations make people\\\'s life insecure
Shahana Bilkis | Published: January 04, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
Share if you like