Infighting among AL members

We are deeply disturbed by an Ain o Salish Kendra report, according to which as many as 59 members of Awami League (AL) were killed in factional feuds in the last two years. If that is not gruesome enough, we have noted with serious concern that the party in power has been involved in about 400 incidents of violent clashes involving its own members that have left a few thousands more injured. We cannot even recall natural disasters or terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of so many in the said time. 

While gleaning from the press clippings of such incidents, we see some recurring themes that have reportedly plagued some local AL leaders. Of them, tender manipulation, influencing government's development work, and extortion, to name but a few. It clearly shows that the criminals in the fold of the ruling party are taking full advantage of a situation where there is no effective opposition political party to protest their nefarious activities. These incidents and the culture of impunity surrounding them deal a body blow to the very foundation of rule of law, the ultimate casualty of which is democracy itself.   

This is also unbecoming of the AL, the country's largest political party that has led the nation and its people through thick and thin. We believe that, the ruling party leadership needs to assess the extent of damage some of its members have already done to its image. The only way to resolve internal feud in a political party is through the establishment of democratic values and principles. Party forums need to function well to smoothen out differences of opinion or conflicts of interest. The AL leadership has to weed out hooligans from its fold. Errant cadres must be disciplined, and those involved in criminal activities have to be brought to book.