Saturday's assault upon a rally of Bangladesh’s opposition party Awami League came just after the crowd had been addressed by party leader, Hasina Wajed. Aides were quick to assert that the seven or eight hand grenades tossed into the audience in the street outside Awami League headquarters were an assassination attempt upon Hasina herself.
Whatever the motive, this was clearly a crime of hatred and bigotry. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia immediately described the deed as “dastardly” and called for the fullest investigation. Unfortunately, this is only the latest in a series of deadly attacks against Awami League supporters this year with the police and security services yet to charge anyone. Hasina has called for the resignation of Khaleda’s Bangladesh National Party government because it is unable to protect its citizens. Backing for this demand came yesterday with a well-supported national strike.
The opposition is, however, entering dangerous political territory. The two political leaders share a rivalry that goes beyond normal politics. Since it won independence, Bangladesh has become polarized between the main political parties and the families who dominate them. Elections have generally been fair and each party has enjoyed a period in power. Rumbling beneath the surface, at the same time, has always been a highly charged tension that threatened to plunge the country into chaos. The tension has re-emerged following the attacks. Yet this is surely a moment for caution and statesmanship, not invective and vituperation. There is no doubt that the police have thus far performed lamentably in investigating the attacks. Premier Khaleda’s government must shake up the investigators and ensure that the probe into these crimes assumes a new urgency with the best investigative talent that the authorities have. If the crimes have been committed by supporters of the BNP, then the perpetrators must be rooted out. No one must be protected from questioning.
In the meantime, the Awami League leadership would do well to control the anger felt by its supporters. These attacks are dreadful crimes but unless a senior BNP official is found to be complicit in them, they are not a clear reason for the Khaleda’s government to fall. Hasina would do well to consider that the terrorists who carried out these murders may very well have nothing to do with any Bangladeshi rivals. It cannot be ruled out that extremist elements have identified this poor and crowded country as a new front in their war against moderation and decency.
Already hit by the worst floods in years, with a soaring birth rate and falling employment opportunities, Bangladesh is a country on the economic ropes. If extremist organizations could stir up civil strife between the two political groups, they might hope to also throw it on the social ropes. The Awami League needs to accept that the attack upon it was an assault upon all moderate and peaceful citizens of whatever political persuasion. Such an onslaught should be tackled by unity and cooperation not by politicking and name-calling.
