JS session ends on a combative note

PRIME Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia were in a fiercely attacking mood trading some outlandish charges against each other as the eventful first session of the ninth parliament drew to a close on Tuesday night.
While Sheikh Hasina made no secret of her belief that the BNP-led opposition was conspiring to destablise the country, Begum Khaleda Zia launched a long diatribe, focusing on what she termed the government's grossly inept handling of the recent BDR crisis. What was conspicuous in the proceedings is that our leaders did not appear to have been moved, let alone jolted, by the huge debilitating blow dealt to our national security by the Peelkhana carnage. Now the question is if that was not enough to nudge them into thinking anew constructively, or adopting a less partisan posture on a highly sensitive issue, it is not clear when they will be able to rise above party politics and view highly important matters in light of national interest alone. The speeches, or harangues to be precise, directed at each other, were certainly not flattering specimens of observations coming from top leaders on issues having a direct bearing on national security.
So, there was nothing new in the way the two leaders talked in parliament. And there was hardly any sense of direction for the nation. Some of the remarks made by Begum Zia sounded ridiculous, as she appeared totally oblivious of her and her party's role in the pre one-eleven days, when the country was passing through a deep political crisis. Her attempt to distance the BNP from the murky politics surrounding former president Iajuddin Ahmed was far from convincing. Similarly, putting the blame squarely on the prime minister for the loss of lives at the BDR Headquarters was insensible.
The prime minister's appeal to the opposition to cooperate with the government was a logical move well understood by all. But then accusing the same opposition of scheming to start a civil war in the country was inconsistent. It seems the two leaders tried to score points through cheap shots which were completely out of steps with the popular expectations that their speeches in the first session of the newly elected parliament would be substantive, constructive and directional in nature.
Unfortunately, no change in political culture is visible as yet, at least not from their unwieldy speeches. How long do we have to wait for a change in our political culture.?