Where is the political space for the opposition?
Despite repeated assurances from the government that political space will be afforded to all, the way the police cracked down on BNP activists on February 24 seems to indicate otherwise. The home minister said that the government never obstructs any peaceful programmes, yet there are scores of incidents that show differently, including BNP's latest protest which, reportedly, was peaceful on the part of its activists, but not so on the part of police.
The activists were simply protesting the refusal of police to allow BNP permission to hold a rally by waiving black flags—exercising their fundamental right to free expression—when the police descended on them. What this does is make the claim of the ruling party about the government's willingness to give space to dissenting voices look increasingly hollow. And it also makes one wonder whether it is the order of the day that no political activities can be carried out, except only by the ruling party.
The home minister also said that the area needed to be cleared to ease people's sufferings. Police, echoing his views, said that BNP did not take permission to hold any rally. Yet, BNP activists weren't even allowed to leave the area in front of its own central office space, as police swarmed on them immediately as they sat down on the adjacent pavements, going as far as to use coloured water from water cannons.
What we want to ask is, was all that necessary? After all, the activists were strictly restricted to the immediate vicinity of BNP's office. Did the police really need to get so overzealous?
We have, in the past, strongly condemned BNP's violence. However, peaceful protests, political rallies, etc., are fundamental rights and sine qua non for any democracy worth the name.
- Courtesy: The daily Star Feb 26, 2018
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