Deadly deadline!
Sirajul Islam, Social sciences researcher and consultant, Shyamoli, Dhaka
The government, that sickly child of compromise, is looking surprisingly tough to survive the first serious test following the recent deterioration of law and order , price spiral of the essentials, defection of two MPs, and, finally, scapegoating of some cleaner and capable party stalwarts.What may really happen by April 30? Just days before the AL deadline, analysts say, a bomb maybe detonated by defection of some treasury bench deputies, and suddenly, the coalition majority maybe on the rocks. This is, however, pure speculation. I think the AL is trying to reap maximum benefits out of the weaknesses of the ruling coalition, its strategies and tactics in handling governance issues together with the handling of politics. Politics is meant for the cool headed persons. High handedness in politics is suicidal. We are waiting to see what happens, of course, as onlookers. * * * The main opposition Awami League (AL) has given an ultimatum to the elected alliance government to resign by April 30. The decision was made at an AL executive committee meeting recently. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told the nation and the international media, including the BBC, that only Allah could help the present government survive after April 30. Perhaps the AL logic is as follows: The people of Bangladesh have nothing to do since they were very wrong in voting for the BNP in October 1, 2001 general elections. As the mass people went 'astray', they are to digest what the AL prescribes and does for the nation. The above logic of the AL might work if there was no party capable of running the country at all. But there are some others including the BNP to do that. Most people would agree that the alliance running the country is not doing well. But the AL was not doing this job better anyway! MAS Molla, BAAS, Dhaka
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. PHOTO: AFP |
