As is always the case, our political parties fail to stand up to the occasion and rise beyond petty party interests. As your editorial (Dec 4) pointed out, it was naïve of the main opposition to demand the government to step down as a precondition for any dialogue. It only speaks of the immaturity and probably insincerity on the part of the Awami League to solve the real problem at hand.

The party in power on the other hand appears to be pathetically helpless and only half-hearted in its attempt to root out the problem. The BNP seems to have gained this illusion that it can cling to power forever banking on the combined vote bank of the 4-party alliance. It is therefore desperately trying to keep the image of the alliance in tact by denying any links between Jamaat and JMB. It seems to be in a dilemma as to what to make of the emergence of JMB under close, if not direct, patronage by Jamaat.

Rab, which gained quite a reputation of apprehending criminals in the past, had to release suspects recently reportedly under pressure from the political high-ups. Even Rab seems to be helpless in apprehending the real perpetrators of the bomb attacks. The government needs to show that it is sincere in finding out the real culprits. It is perhaps time for the armed forces to be called in and root out this menace once and for all.

The earlier this Frankenstein is eliminated, the better it is for the ordinary people.