'Solution in a week' turns out to be farce

That violence would end in seven to ten days, an arrogant forecast by some ministers last week, turns out to be a joke as that period nears its end.

Arsonists continued their terror attacks on public transport, burning innocent people to death just as they did throughout the ongoing blockade called by the 20-party coalition led by the BNP.

The all-powerful ruling Awami League leaders, who publicly boasted about containing the violence only to pacify the people, now privately appear highly skeptical about their prophecy coming true.

"The way the arsonists are carrying out ambush, it is very difficult for the law enforcement agencies to stop them," a minister told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity, referring to the attacks on public transport even under police protection.

Preferring anonymity, a very vocal senior AL leader meekly agreed: "It is not possible to bring a solution to the political crisis by administrative measures."

The BNP-led alliance responded to the ruling party's rhetoric by calling a fresh 36-hour nationwide hartal beginning yesterday. This is on top of the ongoing nationwide blockade since January 6. The alliance says the shutdown is to protest the proposed hike of electricity price and arrests of their leaders.

Talking to The Daily Star, some senior BNP leaders have said there is now no scope of backing away; they would rather intensify the agitation by enforcing more hartals. They are also considering a noncooperation movement.

AL sources said the government strategy to quell the movement through administrative means prompted some ministers and party leaders to come up with the solution-in-a-week theory and also tough warnings against arsonists.

To no effect. Arsonists kept bombing public vehicles in and outside the capital, killing at least seven more people and injuring about 300 others in last week alone. The total death toll has risen to 30.  

In their worst attack yet, suspected blockaders on Friday night firebombed a bus in the capital's Jatrabari, wounding at least 30 people. At least nine were said to be in a critical condition.

Contacted yesterday, a top AL leader said it was impossible to resolve the crisis by using police and other law enforcement agencies. He also admitted that the statements by ministers and AL leaders were meant to keep the party morale high and assure people of safety.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam was the first to speak about the magic solution. At a discussion on January 17, he said law enforcement agencies would take every measure to bring an end to the movement in 10 days. Other AL leaders, including party Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Advisory Council Member Suranjit Sengupta and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, followed suit. Some of them even claimed that seven days, not 10 days, were all they needed to foil the opposition programme. 

Asked, Qamrul yesterday said his statement was based on an assurance of law enforcers. But he still insisted that normalcy would return in a few days.

Suranjit made a similar claim when this newspaper approached him yesterday for comments on their boastful remarks that have proved hollow.

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is still keeping his spirits high. He maintains law enforcers are trying their best to keep things under control.

"The prime minister has instructed us to make the situation normal at the earliest and this situation will not last long.”

But opposition policymakers have a different plan, now looking to intensify the agitation as a “final offensive”. They are also keeping it in mind that once they call off the ongoing movement, it will be difficult to wage a fresh one.

Their expectation of the West is also great. One BNP policymaker said they want to draw the attention of US President Barack Obama, who is visiting India, to the Bangladesh crisis. Whether Obama would like to be drawn in is another matter though.

But for BNP leaders like Moudud Ahmed and Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, if no other thing can solve this problem, talks can.