The making of the inferno

Since it came into being Bangladesh has been in the eye of the storm, which could seldom be tamed by any of the authorities in the past. With the hard issues of the polity remaining unresolved it only intensified. A new spate of political unrest, not experienced hitherto, has exacerbated the overall situation of the country with both inter and intra-party differences increasing. Even though a working democracy is functioning in the country and there is a vocal opposition the political forces of the country never spoke in one voice on vital national issues. On the contrary, they are perennially opposed to each other in their views, thus giving the opponents and enemies of both to hatch conspiracies.

Those who benefit from such a political environment, and in fact thrive on it, are having a field day. In a politically divided country mischief makers take the cover of violence to spread fear, instability and confusion to create their own constituency. As a result, we see the proliferation of unrest of bewildering varieties. There are frequent bomb attacks, instances of crossfire, fresh rise of militancy of the religious right, as well extremists in the garb of the political left, with the attendant breakdown of law and order. It seems that we are still dealing with the symptoms and are yet to treat the disease. There is debate galore as to the perpetrators of the crimes, without anyone knowing how to douse the fire created by them.

For a good thirty-eight years, we have wasted time and energy by pointing fingers, make inconsequential accusations and throwing innuendoes. All that has been achieved in return is that the country has gone downhill on all fronts. The wobbly economy, dwindling number of migrant workers who keep it running, poor management of RMG, the labour unrest in Tongi's Nippon Garment factory, resulting in a few reported deaths, do not bode well. More alarming is the cheap politics played around those, with political parties taking sides only to garner some political mileage. In this milieu, the violence brewing up in the country can easily snowball into a major crisis, inviting extra-judicial forces to intervene.

The problems already facing the government are indeed interlocking and mutually feed on each other. As the authority gets over one problem, another crops up in an unexpected front. The price of one essential drops when another item goes dearer. In such a jigsaw puzzle, the authority also has few choices. As a result, we are indeed failing in our democratic experimentation -- particularly when our democracy is far from being efflorescent and lacks many of its quintessential ingredients.

Against the backdrop of the country's divided political forces, the government does have a role in promoting a healthy political culture of magnanimity and tolerance, and in accommodating the opposition's demands as far as possible. We certainly do not want the country's political heat to rise to such an extent that the country turns into a combustible cauldron. Unfortunately, what we are doing points to possibility.

In bringing the politicians together for the greater interest of the nation even the media, intellectuals and civil society have a role. We are a sensible people, displaying a good deal of tolerance with regards to the hardships of life -- the migraine-inducing load shedding, traffic jam, continuing price hike, and so on. There is talk of increase in the tariff of utility services, including electricity. That will amount to putting the last proverbial last straw on the camel's back.

We are worried that Damocle's sword is hanging over our heads. The fear of that will contribute towards making of the inferno we are already in.

Brig ( retd) Hafiz is former DG of BIISS.