The \\\'march for democracy\\\' in the context of Bangladesh politics

The country has been witnessing nightmarish scenarios since November 26 just after the declaration of the 10th parliamentary election schedule. A series of mindless blockade by the opposition alliance from November 26 and the response to it by the law-enforcement agencies and ruling party cadres has claimed the lives of about 120 people. Many have been burned, crippled and maimed. Why is this tragic situation? The ruling party speaks of upholding the Constitution and the opposition offers the logic of saving democracy. Until December 24, the opposition has enforced blockade of roads, rail and waterways for 22 days, crippling communication throughout the country. Frequent armed clashes, acts of arson, blasts and killings took pace almost every day. In the midst of these incidents and untold sufferings of the people, both the opposition and the 'ruling' parties have been adamant to implement their own programmes.
Begum Khaleda Zia, the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the chief of the opposition 18-Party Alliance, in a speech on December 24 urged people from every corner of the country to march towards the capital on December 29 to force the government into postponing the January 05 'farcical election'. She asked the opposition leaders and activists to form resistance committees at polling stations to foil the coming election. She has also called for organising committees to "save democracy and sovereignty" at district and upazila levels. "To give our movement greater momentum  and take it to the next level, I call upon all of you, irrespective of your political beliefs  and opinions, to march to Dhaka. This march is to say 'NO' to the farcical election. This historic  march will be held to express your support for credible elections under a neutral, non-party poll-time government. I call upon you to converge on Dhaka in this month of our victory waving our red and green national flag. Come by road, by bus, by rail routes and converge on the nation's capital," Khaleda Zia said.
This appeal has made us  further apprehensive of witnessing  more cloudy days as the government  will try to resist the 'march' employing its ' bahinis' and energy to uphold the  Constitution. And the recharged leaders and activists of the opposition will also try to follow the party chief's renewed directive to save democracy. On the formation of resistance committees, Khaleda Zia has asked her followers to get involved from all sections of society, including minorities, and remain alert to ensuring their safety and security. "There will be zero tolerance for any form of communalism," she said.
Khaleda Zia also called upon her supporters to maintain law and order and protect the lives and properties of all citizens through  formation of neighbourhood surveillance groups. We appreciate her concern for the minorities. We do hope her party people will respect her directives.
"The MPs, who will be elected through this farcical election will not be considered as the legitimate representatives of the people, as they do not enjoy any popular mandate. The masterminds of the BDR carnage and the planners of the Shapla Square massacre are now plotting to put the country's patriotic armed forces against the people. Such a government would be undemocratic and unrepresentative. No servant of the Republic is obliged to follow the orders of such an illegitimate government. When the world has decided not to grant any legitimacy to it, when the majority of the people are not involved with this, I ask all those connected with the process to stay away from it also. These appeals and points contain merit which we cannot fully disagree.
The government has enough scopes to think over the points. I appeal to the professionals, members of the business community, the civil society, students, young people, farmers, workers, people of all faiths and beliefs, people of the hills and the plains -- everyone who wants democracy and peace, to come to Dhaka on that day. You have taken oath to uphold the Constitution.
Do not violate your oath. Any attempt to deny the people this right will be resisted, and we will be forced to announce even stronger action programmes. My appeal to law enforcers:  ' Do not obstruct  this peaceful  gathering.'"
Khaleda Zia spelled out a four-point strategy to gear up the movement during the final stages. The four points include: strengthening of coordination among all those who are already involved in this movement and those who will join the movement, strengthening the politics of resolving all national issues through people's participation, dialogue and referendum by refraining from the politics of divisiveness, formation of polling centre-based  local resistance committees and preservation of democracy and sovereignty. The BNP chief appealed to the members of the law-enforcement agencies not to get misguided by a handful of self-serving, partisan members. She advised them: "Preserve your sense of professionalism and protect your integrity. You are not adversaries of the people or the opposition political parties." These suggestions sound good indeed. But the law enforcers played the same role when the BNP was in power.
Referring to the Prime Minister's speech about the discussion on the 11th parliament instead of the 10th one, Khaleda Zia said: "This is arrogance, instead of rational thinking. This is an expression of ill intent. I am urging her to move away from obstinacy. Democratic  politics is the art of compromise. One does not become small by seeking a compromise. In 1996, we accepted your demand in the light of national interest. Now you are in power. Accept the people's demand and sit for dialogue. Postpone the schedule of one-sided election and let us try to reach an understanding by respecting public sentiments. There was no need to waste public money by holding a candidate-less, voter-less and meaningless election as this will not only stigmatise Hasina's government, but also destroy democracy."
All have food for thought in these remarks.  We, the general people, understand that the major political parties have proven through their activities that they hardly bother about national and real public interest. They do the same thing when in opposition and speak the same thing when in government. So, their appeal to the nation now bears little importance. Both the sides have resorted to some exercises of political words and games keeping themselves away from economic development and emancipation.
The BNP tries to use public sentiment against the Awami League (AL) saying India is their 'headquarters', and the AL tries to tell  the same story against BNP that they will make this country Pakistan. All these are absurd points. We are a free nation. When politicians fail to save our hard-earned democracy, people take notice of it. They never commit any mistakes. Politicians should talk about public interest, real nation-building programmes, and constructive steps and means. They should not divide the nation to serve their petty interests.
The writer is Programme Manager, BRAC Education Programme, and vice-president of Bangladesh
English Language Teachers Association (BELTA).
 [email protected]