Political killings must stop
Friday, 13 November 2009
Arafat Hosen Khan Bar-at-Law
THE abortive attack on Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh, MP, has to be seen in a proper perspective. He was lucky to survive the bomb attack outside his office in the capital's downtown. But it left at least 13 others wounded. Such incidents only damage the image of the country.
This was not the first time political leaders to come under attack or get killed. It speaks of the country's political culture. Since its liberation in 1971, Bangladesh has seen too many unnatural deaths of politicians.
The assassination of founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, followed by the jail killings of high-profile political leaders whose contributions to the liberation war can hardly be underestimated and also the assassination of Ziaur Rahman, the former President of Bangladesh, only remind one of the killing extravaganza over the nearly last four decades. There seems to be no end to this.
More recently, the nation had to been with Udichi bomb blast, Ramna bomb blast and the killings of politicians like Ahsanullah Master, MP, and Ivy Rahman. The list could grow.
Prime Minister and the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, came under attack several times. The grenade attack on Awami League (AL) rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, was undoubtedly aimed at assassinating Sheikh Hasina. There were at least nine grenade blasts and several rounds of shooting. Sheikh Hasina escaped this reprehensible attack. A number of AL leaders and workers laid down their lives, some while trying to save her and others. The loss of Ivy Rahman, secretary of women's affairs of Awami League, and 21 others, is regrettable.
The perpetrators of the crimes have not been brought to justice as yet. The trial of the brutal killers of Bangabandhu and members of his family that was restarted by the present government, is approaching an end.
Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh is a rising star in Bangladesh politics. The young lawmaker is in the team of procecution lawyers in the Bangabandhu Murder Case representing the state. The recent attack on him was not only disgraceful but also a threat to other political leaders and democracy.
The political killings are interlinked. Those who opposed independence of Bangladesh during the Liberation War seems to be active against democracy and the country. Why else they would the target of "killers".
This killing culture has to stop. It is time to find out and bring the offenders to justice.
The nation wants peace. In Bangladesh, there must be no more killings and bloodshed.
THE abortive attack on Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh, MP, has to be seen in a proper perspective. He was lucky to survive the bomb attack outside his office in the capital's downtown. But it left at least 13 others wounded. Such incidents only damage the image of the country.
This was not the first time political leaders to come under attack or get killed. It speaks of the country's political culture. Since its liberation in 1971, Bangladesh has seen too many unnatural deaths of politicians.
The assassination of founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, followed by the jail killings of high-profile political leaders whose contributions to the liberation war can hardly be underestimated and also the assassination of Ziaur Rahman, the former President of Bangladesh, only remind one of the killing extravaganza over the nearly last four decades. There seems to be no end to this.
More recently, the nation had to been with Udichi bomb blast, Ramna bomb blast and the killings of politicians like Ahsanullah Master, MP, and Ivy Rahman. The list could grow.
Prime Minister and the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, came under attack several times. The grenade attack on Awami League (AL) rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, was undoubtedly aimed at assassinating Sheikh Hasina. There were at least nine grenade blasts and several rounds of shooting. Sheikh Hasina escaped this reprehensible attack. A number of AL leaders and workers laid down their lives, some while trying to save her and others. The loss of Ivy Rahman, secretary of women's affairs of Awami League, and 21 others, is regrettable.
The perpetrators of the crimes have not been brought to justice as yet. The trial of the brutal killers of Bangabandhu and members of his family that was restarted by the present government, is approaching an end.
Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh is a rising star in Bangladesh politics. The young lawmaker is in the team of procecution lawyers in the Bangabandhu Murder Case representing the state. The recent attack on him was not only disgraceful but also a threat to other political leaders and democracy.
The political killings are interlinked. Those who opposed independence of Bangladesh during the Liberation War seems to be active against democracy and the country. Why else they would the target of "killers".
This killing culture has to stop. It is time to find out and bring the offenders to justice.
The nation wants peace. In Bangladesh, there must be no more killings and bloodshed.