No quarter being given to opposition
As we approach February 8, we find a toughening of government's position on the largest opposition party. The random en masse arrests of BNP leaders and workers at all levels, on the pretext of security, leave us wondering why the right to congregate is being violated in the name of preserving law and order. The pretext of ensuring security is in fact giving the law enforcing agencies the license to apprehend and incarcerate large numbers of BNP activists at will.
The forcible dispersion by the police of BNP supporters waiting on roadsides to greet Khaleda Zia on her way to Sylhet, throwing of things at her motorcade, all smack of a zero tolerance towards the main opposition party. And hostile words are being traded by both the BNP and AL regarding the verdict and post-verdict scenario; the former threatening to go for peaceful agitation while the latter threatening that violence would not be tolerated. Should the BNP resort to violence on February 8, there is the police who can and should take action to preserve law and order, but why the large-scale arrests before then?
As a political party, the BNP must not be impeded from carrying out political activities. And this being the election year, there must be a level playing field for all political parties when it comes to holding rallies or meetings. But not to allow any means of protest, or greeting the party leader on the streets or roadsides, or not even allowing public announcement of the impending visit to Sylhet of Khaleda Zia, are certainly violations of basic rights.
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