For the past four years, we having been groveling, pleading with leaders of the AL, the party that rightfully claims to have created history, to stop treating Road 32 as the doormat to its personal banquet hall and political convention hall under the trees by the Dhanmondi Lake, but to no avail. No party celebration is too small, no national event too insignificant but up go the outdoor tents, the mikes that seem to need an hour of "Ullo, Ullo, Ullo, Ullo, Ullo" to confirm to the party enthusiasts that they are indeed in good working order. Strangely enough, the mikes are not pointed inwards towards the tents but outwards towards some 40 families who live on Road 32 and the street that faces it across the lake.

The sound of the thundering speeches and songs, which ensues, is enough to compete with the din of hell itself. Some celebrations, such as the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujib, are important enough to warrant three whole days of thunder and attempted melody by tykes so young that they can barely lisp their names or carry a tune. Every time these events happen, residents on Road 32 and nearby have no choice but to rush to close their windows, lock themselves regardless of the weather, and reach for the bottle of Panadol, that has become a friend, so as to rid themselves of pounding headaches.

When the AL is in power, things can get much worse. Then is the time to assault us with not only sound but fear. The police take over our verandas and rooftops on the excuse of providing security to high AL officials. Any attempt at demurral is turned into evidence of lack of patriotism. No matter how urgent the nature of our errands outside, they must be put on hold for hours. Should we happen to be out of our homes and wish to return, we are locked out and have to wait it out in blazing sun or rain, on the streets that lead to Road 32.

How could the AL have so deluded itself into thinking that its historical role gave it licence to reduce a whole residential street to a doormat at the entry of its banquet halls and convention centre?