It's time to take to the streets

The ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance has decided to take to streets to resist the ongoing violence unleashed by the BNP-led alliance as it thinks the violence cannot be contained only through “administrative way”.
The 14-party combine is also of the opinion that the violence will continue. Earlier, however, some AL leaders and ministers, particularly Food Minister Qamrul Islam, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Advisory Council Member Suranjit Sengupta and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed had predicted that the violence would end in seven to 10 days. The time frame, however, has long expired.
The decisions came at a meeting of the combine at the AL chief's Dhanmondi office.
Chaired by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Sharif Nurul Ambia, the meeting discussed the latest political situation, and decided to take up a series of programmes across the country to protest the violence that claimed the lives of at least 51 people, burnt and injured dozen others since January 6, sources in the meeting told The Daily Star.
Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua told the meeting that the violence unleashed by the BNP-led alliance might continue, and also urged the 14-party leaders to take to streets to resist the anarchy, insiders said.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim also expressed similar views at the meeting.
After the meeting, Mohammad Nasim, also the spokesperson for the combine, announced the programmes and urged the law enforcers to exercise maximum power for restoring peace.
The 14-party will hold a peace rally on February 7 in Chauddagram of Comilla, where at least seven people were killed in an arson attack on Monday.
Besides, the alliance will form human chain across the country on February 8 and will hold peace rally on February 14 and 15 in different parts of the capital.