Editorial
Ugly wrath turned on dissent
A body-blow to democracy
The attacks on M A Mannan's house, businesses and factories in the wake of his resignation from the ruling BNP and joining an alternative political forum only show that we still have a long way to go before living up to the basics of democratic behaviour. In this case, a citizen's right to dissent as enshrined in the Constitution, has been blatantly trampled. The ruling BNP, by allowing its activists to hurl bombs at Mannan's house, and ransack his offices and businesses, both in Dhaka and Chittagong, has proven two things: first, they are not prepared to accept any voice of dissent within the party; and secondly, they are even more intolerant of a dissenter joining into their detractors' fold. The ruling party can't shake off its responsibility for these attacks just as they couldn't do it in the case of not allowing Dr B Choudhury to hold the planned first-ever meeting of his newly-formed alternative political forum last Thursday. And that's also after he had sought and received 'permission' to hold the rally. He and his associates were physically attacked when a motorcycle sped into the crowd surrounding him in the street leading to the venue. Even those who were trying to reach out to express their solidarity with Dr Choudhury, were brutally attacked and beaten up. If the government had all the good intentions, then such naked invasion on democratic right would not have been allowed to take place. And, secondly, if the government really wants to disassociate itself from such attacks, then we ask them -- why no one has been taken to task till now, especially since everyone saw who the perpetrators for those attacks were. We strongly condemn such highhandedness, particularly on the part of a democratically elected government. They ignored the intense outrage expressed all over the country following the ruthless attack on B Choudhury and continued with their crusade against MA Mannan, thereby firming up the impression that they are out to crush any opposition to the government. This majority party arrogance and democracy cannot go together.
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