The probe into the discovery of such a huge consignment of smuggled arms, where they were headed, and who might be involved in the operation is still in its early stages, and the head of the official inquiry committee has said that so far no political links to the incident have been uncovered. The national security implications of such a probe are of such seriousness that it behoves the inquiry committee to conduct its investigation without any prejudice and with utmost caution and deliberation.

That should put at rest the rhetoric of accusatory political finger pointing between some BNP and AL leaders. BNP leaders have speculated that the arms could be linked to the opposition and have hinted darkly that these were the "big surprise" that the opposition had been referring to in its rhetoric of government's fall by April 30. The opposition, for its part, claimed that they were brought into the country for the purpose of liquidating opposition party leaders and cadres. In the process, the focus of the investigation got defused.

In our latest editorial on the subject the other day we made it clear that stuff like Chittagong mayor Mohiuddin's statement that the USA and Pakistan had hand in the transshipment of the arms allegedly intended for insurgents in India's North-East was extremely irresponsible. We are glad that AL general-secretary Abdul Jalil has since clarified to the effect that Mohiuddin's statement didn't reflect AL's party position.

Speculation and rumour-mongering can get us nowhere in uncovering the truth. Indeed, it doesn't do the cause of impartial and unprejudiced investigation any good to have accusations and counter-accusations flying around with sinister imputation of country linkages to top them off without any proof furnished. Is it too much to hope that when matters of national security are at stake, the political leadership of the country should present a united front?