As the immediate past prime minister, Khaleda Zia should have been more circumspect. But instead she was extremely belligerent. Tolerance and spirit of accommodation are not to be found anywhere in the brand of politics that the two parties are now relying on to propel themselves to an advantageous position before the next elections.

The rhetoric of the most hostile kind cannot help the cause of democracy or law and order. Though the top two leaders have set different targets, both of them are spewing the same amount of venom at the people and institutions that they seek to undermine. Khaleda Zia has virtually reprimanded the whole caretaker government, accusing it of hatching a conspiracy. And two of the advisors have come under sharp attacks for their alleged connections with the BNP's rivals.

We fail to understand who the caretaker government is conspiring against. And how could Khaleda say that it was none of the AL's business to scrutinize the activities of the CEC? Why should the opposition accept a garbled voter list and a man as the CEC whose competence has been questioned even by BNP leaders?

Sheikh Hasina, for her part, is also not playing it cool. She has said that there will bloodshed if her party's demands are not met by November 12. She seems to have little remorse even after the October 28 mayhem in which some activists turned barbaric beyond description. Have the AL leaders learnt nothing from the showdown, which has created revulsion in the public mind?

We appeal to the BNP and the AL to refrain from saying or doing anything that can only cause harm to the nation. They have to try to regain the public confidence in politicians' ability, to resolve the crisis, which has been badly eroded by the recent developments. And it is the top two leaders who have to show the way by following the rules of the game, instead of ripping them to shreds.