As was expected the present law and order situation in the country and the most alarming hike in the prices of essential commodities would engage the parliament members of the government in serious consideration. The meeting of the BNP parliamentary party, which was due to be held two months earlier, was at last held on March 21, 2004. It was reported by the print and the electronic media that almost all the MPs expressed their anxieties over the afore-stated two terribly burning issues.

Belated though the meeting provided an opportunity to the members to make an introspective look at the overall scenario obtaining now in the country. The younger section of the MPs was reported to have been very critical about some of the ministers/senior members of the party. They demanded to size down the cabinet to 30 with persons known for their high moral integrity and honesty. More specifically, they pleaded with the leader of the party and Prime Minister so as not to include any businessman in the ministry. They said that those persons in the cabinet were more after their respective business interest. It was due to their machination that the government was not able to enforce any control over the prices of essential commodities. This younger group foresaw that the 'popularity' of the 'alliance' would be swept away to the waters of the seas if the price hike and acts of terrorism were not effectively contained right now.

The open discussion that followed even touched on the legitimacy of opposing the propagators of the alternative stream led by Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury. By going into action against the trend the youthful members of parliament thought would mean attaching importance to it which it didn't deserve. Such a realisation on the part of the law makers belonging to the party in power would be a genuine expectation of any one, particularly the saner ones of either side. In fact, the police action on the street blocking passage to political opponents, was in itself utterly provocative. Such interception on grounds of protecting public life and property is readily understandable. But the "Bikalpa Dhara" activists didn't do anything that could call for such action and that too, so ruthlessly where unidentified hoodlums joined hand in a ghastly sportive fashion.

The slur or the slander so freely dispensed allegedly at the instance of 'higher-ups' could be the mis-deed of some over enthusiastic police men pampered to such acts by lower level of people in the political party in power. It is inconceivable that the head of the government could have any share in such "orders". At least I do not believe it since the Chief Executive of the government in her political overtures is very much used to say in public meetings that she would meet any challenge of the opposition politically. And such a stance, if meticulously and honestly adhered to, must be a sensible one and hence should be ever vindicated. Otherwise, the strength of the government or the political party in power depletes fast to reinforce and reinvigorate opposition strongholds. The part of the population which has no political linkage or affiliation, in such events, will register their support to the opposition granting it numerical strength more than ever before. It's a very simple arithmetic, historically proved and must therefore be intelligently taken care of.

Away to the chain of events over the past couple of weeks it is observed that notwithstanding the ideological differences of the political parties, big or small or the past unpalatable experience with some of the leaders of those parties, the opposition is gaining faster grounds. All are, as it appears, bent upon waging a war against the party in power. If there is ultimately a united movement things may turn very uncertain. It is therefore of no use to be complacent with the two-thirds majority in the parliament and to use provocative words benefiting opposition consolidation.

Still then the new movement of the alternative trend is yet to take a concrete shape to be reckoned with. For instance, we can take a look at Dr Kamal Hossain's Oikya Prochesta and its recent convention at the Paltan. It was indeed amusing to know that invitation was extended to all the political parties including BNP. The agenda included, among others, rousing of public opinion against the ever-compounding acts of terrorism, corruption and rule of the musclemen with direct patronage of the party in power. In the first place therefore the invitation to the 'alliance' government members appeared to be funny and ridiculous.

It was true that after being forced to run for safety down the railway tracks at Tejgaon Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury could manage to attend Dr Kamal Hossain's convention and even was able to address the huge audience. But the pledged unity of all the political parties, the left-leaning 11-party conglomerate and even the mainstream opposition party Awami League presented some breach somewhere. Political observers have been of the opinion that the ground for securing Awami League's support to the 'Oikya Prochesta' was lost to Dr Hossain due to his own lack of enthusiasm to respond to AL's call for hartal on Dr Humayun Azad's case.

The much desired element of reciprocity was surprisingly absent. It was also reported that he didn't even consider to repeat his personal persuasive endeavours with the smaller parties in case of Awami League or for that matter, its chief Sheikh Hasina. That's how the absence of AL representation in the convention shall have been explained.

The imaginary clash of personality did perhaps the inevitable twisting of the whole episode.

However, it is premature to make any conclusive remark on the issue of the planned movement against the present government. Meantime, there has been some very dirty scenes witnessed by the whole nation. Vicious acts of terrorism have been perpetrated on the industrial holdings of Maj Mannan, said to have been at the instance of some extremists in the party in power. Such acts of gansterism and massive destruction of property have been something which Begum Khaleda Zia, as the Prime Minister, has been condemning in all her public meetings. But the men behind the dastardly acts continue to show utter disrespect to the commands of their leader and thus slandering her public image.

Against such a grim and atrocious situation the firm words and conviction of the younger group of MPs of the government party are sure to lit the candle of hope in the dark alleys. It is high time that urgent repairs are done to the damage done by the own party men, before it is too late.

We await and see the action that the government takes in all such cases. Let prudence rule the judgement of everyone in the government and in the opposition. Let us not ruin ourselves in any case by being vindictive.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is an industrial consultant.