Legitimate political aspirations versus militant demands

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THE Jamaat alleges that scores of its activists and leaders, including its students’ wing Shibir have been arrested on fictitious charge and demands their unconditional release before the Independence Day on March 26.
Party’s secretary general alleged at a press conference recently that those arrested were subjected to physical and mental torture in police custody. He also alleged that they faced obstacles in holding public meetings and rallies. He announced a countrywide programme of public meetings and rallies, from March 14 to 31, to expose what he said the ‘misdeeds’ of the government. Referring to the CHT incidents, Jamaat said it was the result of the withdrawal of Army camps from the hill districts but the government was falsely blaming the political adversaries.
On the other side, the Education Minister said in parliament last Thursday that the government was intending to ban Shibir from the educational campuses.
It is a pity that the political parties have failed to distinguish legitimate political aspirations from militant demands. Why don’t the parties declare publicly that they do not support undemocratic and unethical means?
If the political parties of Bangladesh really want to help the millions of innocent citizens and students, they should condemn not only unruly political cadres but also the masterminds which are killing its own people for personal gain.
Gopal Sengupta
Canada
gopalsengupta@aol.com