Violence has to stop right away

ATM Shamsul Huda

A group of eminent citizens yesterday called for an immediate end to the continuing acts of terror to pave the way for dialogue between the two major political parties.

“The atmosphere for dialogue will not be created unless violence is stopped. Besides, it's an international practice that violence should be ceased before any such initiative gets underway,” former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said on behalf of “concerned citizens”.

“Peace has to be restored first. To do so, petrol bomb attacks, violence on the streets and indiscriminate killing of common people will have to be stopped," he said during a press conference at Jatiya Press Club.

 Enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance since January 6 over a dozen demands, including an early parliamentary election, the non-stop blockade has led to widespread arson and bomb attacks.

Over 70 lives have been lost with economy suffering a loss of Tk 2,877 crore a day. Education too has been hit hard, especially due to shutdowns on top of the blockade. 

Against this backdrop, Huda wrote to President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on February 9, requesting a national dialogue on behalf of some civil society members. 

Addressing yesterday's press conference, the ex-CEC said burning people alive can in no way be termed political activities. “We have seen many movements in our life, but we have not seen killing people like this way in the name of a movement.”

On the impacts of blockade, he said economy would be destroyed if it continued to suffer every day. The rural economy is already on the verge of collapse. Farmers cannot sell their products, students cannot take their exams.

“It's not a matter of two or four days, we have passed 39 days already. How long will we wait?” Huda asked and said, “The violence must be stopped immediately…. And then a situation for talks will be created.”

“At the same time,” he went on, “the opposition which is carrying out the nonstop movement has to be assured that its grievances will be addressed. Without such assurance, it will not feel encouraged to give up its movement.”

Announcing the formation of a 13-member committee of professionals to push for the talks, Huda said, “We, the conscious citizens of the country, are gravely worried about the current situation. So we think that we need to play a role. And for this reason we got united.

“We did not get united to fulfil any agenda of any particular political party.”

Huda, convenor of the new platform, said they will hold further meetings and sit with different professional bodies.

Asked about bringing in the UN or any foreign mediator, he said this would not be something the nation would be proud of. “Why won't we be able to resolve our problems ourselves?”

On a query about the modality of the proposed talks, Huda said they did not outline any proposal of their own.

“We have urged them [president, prime minister and BNP chief] to take initiative for dialogue. If the initiative is taken, then it's also up to them how they will move ahead. We, some professionals from outside, don't want to impose anything in advance.”

The citizens expect the president, as the custodian and guardian of the constitution, to make a move using his moral authority, Huda added. 

Five members of the committee -- former caretaker government advisers M Hafizuddin Khan and CM Shafi Sami, jurist Shahdeen Malik, ex-World Bank official Ahsan H Mansur and Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder -- were present at the press conference.

Former caretaker government advisers ASM Shahjahan, Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Akbar Ali Khan, Rasheda K Chowdhury and Rokia Afzal Rahman, columnist Syed Abul Maksud and former BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Pervez are also in the committee.

On the formation of the platform, Huda said it came into being following their first meeting at the residence of a distinguished professional.

About excluding politicians from the committee, the former CEC said there were some politicians from small parties with the initiative at the primary stage.

“But after discussion among ourselves, we decided that political personalities will take a separate initiative as we want to work solely as professionals. Problems might arise if politicians and professionals jointly make the move.” 

Asked about the name of the platform, he said they were still working on it.

ON CRITICISMS, ALLEGATIONS

Huda said those who are against dialogue should come up with an alternative.

He added they have positively taken the criticism by the PM and some ruling party men. “It means they are giving us importance,” he said. “We will have to tolerate such badmouthing and criticism in the hope that something good will come out of our initiative.”

Refuting the ruling party's allegations that they have advocated only for dialogue but remained silent about the blockade violence, Huda said media did not highlight the enclosures sent with the letters to the president, the PM and the BNP chief.

In the enclosures, they have categorically opposed the mindless act of violence and burning of innocent people.

Asked whether they support the government's stance that there will be no dialogue with the anti-liberation elements and “killing force” like Jamaat, Huda said this is not their headache and “we are none to comment about this.”