Socio-cultural functions in time of blockade

This is no normal time in Bangladesh -least of all in the capital, Dhaka. Politics is claiming its victims mostly from the lower segments of society. If things slide precipitously, soon people from the upper rungs of society too will fall victim to the insane politics. Sure enough, people are keeping their fingers crossed. They are panicking too. When they get out, apprehend the worst. If they can return home hale and hearty, they thank their stars.
Do the people then in such an unusual situation postpone all their social and cultural events or programmes? Not at all. There are people who leave everything, even the security of their lives to their destiny. They try to go about their daily chores and more serious routine works as regularly as possible. After all, the political unrest is not a temporary phenomenon nor are the risks to life. Only the arson or petrol bomb attacks prove more menacing.
In a situation like this, how do people think of celebrating the most important events such as a marriage ceremony, birth anniversary, akika, khatna (ceremony to mark male child's circumcision) etc, to their satisfaction? It surely is a difficult proposition to arrange such a joyous event and to make it to their liking becomes all the more challenging. But life goes on. People have to accomplish what has been prearranged. Maybe, the tenor and tone become a little subdued.
If it is a marriage ceremony, the preparation has to be made well in advance. Surely no sane person will set a date on a working day. Although the non-stop blockade programme leaves no concession like the hartals do on weekly holidays, people still make the choice for Friday or Saturday or any other public holiday for such arrangements. But when the event qualifies to be mega for a family, there is no scope for avoiding shopping and other required tasks on working days. The calling is so expansive that there is so much to be done within a short time.
Shopping, printing cards and their distribution and hiring a community centre -all constitute a long process until the actual event takes place.
Considered the finale of a life's match, marriage takes place according to the rules set by different faiths. Some involve a number of rituals and rites over a long period and others are relatively short. But then the reception of guests and their entertainment in the banquet hall have to be meticulous. Even guests have to think twice before they set out for the party. After all they have to return home usually at night. Only rarely are the meals served at day time in a marriage ceremony. The same is true for birthday party. But khatna is a ceremony which usually concludes by afternoon. Most other celebrations, though, are scheduled for evening.
Those who are compelled to hold such ceremonies are a wretched lot. They keep their nerves against all kinds of premonition.  So far no casualties involving people intent on accomplishing such celebrations in political turmoil have been reported. But if things continue like this, who knows when the bad news will come! Life does not stop at a spot but then it is dangerous enough to go about such celebrations. The moment of joy may turn into an unremittingly permanent tragedy.
The nation needs to overcome such political backwardness in order to practice healthy and acceptable politics. Civilised people cannot afford such internecine feud within their folds. If the Bangalees want to disprove their undue love for chaos and political lawlessness, they have to get out of such unwarranted violence. People's social life should be left alone free from politics. Targeting common people as a sacrificial goat in order to realising political goal may be anything but not sound politics. Those who are resorting to this madness are committing crimes against the people. They are actually the enemies of the people. Those who throw petrol bombs and other bombs, killing people should be apprehended and tried under the existing law of the land. More dangerous are those who sponsor them.
No one has the right to kill innocent people who cannot indefinitely remain confined to their homes. For survival people have to come out and respond to calls of duties. Politics of any form cannot hold them hostage to their narrow interests. It is not more precious than life. If people have no respect for life, they are damned once for all.