There is a lesson to be learned from the huge rallies. The two big parties should now be pretty much convinced that they are up against formidable opposition and also that they cannot cancel out each other's presence by pretending that the other does not exist.

The AL and the BNP shoulder the responsibility of resolving the on-going political crisis through shunning the path of violence and destruction and thus ensure a bright future for all of us. The two parties have to assess the situation carefully and avoid the pitfalls of pressing too hard for political mileage that may only push the country towards civil disorder. The reality today is that the two parties are the key players in the political arena and they have to live up to the popular expectation.

As things stand now, the BNP has taken a firm stand on the question of adhering to the constitution insofar as holding the election is concerned. We do agree that the constitution is not something that can be trivialised or violated. But then the issues raised by the AL, particularly its claim that valuable time has been lost, cannot be dismissed lightly either. The AL, for its part, is also expected to play a constructive role in keeping the constitutional process alive.

The options open to the two sides are not many. They have to work out a compromise formula and bring back normalcy to the political arena. The nation is passing through a chaotic situation and the top two political parties cannot disassociate themselves from the overall goings-on, nor can they disown, though the responsibility may vary from event to event, what has already happened. Now they have to work together in the mission of salvaging democracy.