THE country was rather pleasantly surprised by the BNP, whose so-called political programme has crossed the sixty day mark a week ago, announcing temporary relaxing of hartal (for 12 hours, though there was no such dispensation accorded to blockade) that it had been calling for the entire week except for the two weekend days, for March 10 to celebrate our historic victory in the world cup, a victory that saw us through to the quarter finals, a feat not achieved heretofore, by beating the English at literally their own game. 

Cricket is a word associated with honesty, fair play and dignity. And that is what most of my generation grew up believing in. But certainly, what BNP has done so far, and now linking its political programme to celebrate a cricket victory, is not cricket at all. It has not only further defiled politics and sullied the value that the word cricket conjures up in our mind, and the perception of fair play, it has also betrayed the party's lack of innovation in formulating a sane and effective political strategy. What we have suffered from is an insane and ineffective political move. As an aside, it would not be misplaced to suggest that insofar as political ploy and gamesmanship is concerned, BNP has come a poor second to AL, but that should be the subject of another article.

The temporary relaxation was sort of a "layoff" from hartal which, in Dhaka at least, nobody has cared to observe. It was reminiscent of relaxation of curfew, to give us 12 hours to celebrate the victory. It is quite appropriate that in view of what BNP has brought upon us since January 5, and in which the AL and the government has not a little part, hartal has become the norm, and anything other than that is now the exception. 

Our latest achievement in cricket is worth all the celebrations that we can think of. And that there can be nothing better than this is it is celebrated cutting across party line forgetting the political differences. However, what is most infuriating is the gross lack of proportion of the BNP in announcing political programmes. One would not like to believe that the BNP leadership would feel that a cricket victory, without for a moment detracting its significance, is worth calling a temporary halt to hartal just so that the BNP can participate in celebrating it. To weigh cricket over the plight of 1.5 million SSC examinees, to be oblivious of the agony of the victims of petrol bombs, to think nothing of the irredeemable harm to the country's economy, is something possible on the part of only those with a cerebrum disorder. While we hope that such genus are very few in the BNP, but fear that those are calling the shots and making decisions in the BNP. It would have been more welcome if the 12 hour respite in hartal would have been for twelve months and more and the senseless blockade had been called off permanently. 

However, it is encouraging to see that the saner elements in the BNP are seeing things for what they are—that the so-called BNP programmes are getting nowhere. BNP's irresponsible and harmful policies have been able to elicit a response only possible from an insensate government—inexplicable indifference to the nation's plight. And during this time the extremists and violence mongers have exploited the flux. We had said before that the so-called programmes have gone out of BNP hands. And it is good to see that being acknowledged by some BNP leaders now. The so-called movement has been hijacked by those whose motives may not be in accord with the BNP's, and unless its leaders revisit their policy soon the situation may be completely irretrievable. We notice with fear the newer innovations by the violence mongers such as 'bicycle bombs' which, if employed, can cause severe damage to humans.  

In war no general is worth his salt if the aim is achieved and the objectives attained with 50% casualties. I for one cannot take issue with the BNP's aim of having an inclusive participatory and free election. But in politics too the attainment of the aim cannot be at the cost of the country and the people. But that is what is going to happen exactly. By the time BNP succeeds, if at all, in 'salvaging democracy,' the country will have suffered irredeemable losses. BNP should understand that programmes which it claims are being pursued for the people cannot be directed at the people and the country. And at the end of the day, and it might be a very very long day, the best the BNP can gloat over is a Pyrrhic victory. 

The writer is Editor, Oped and Defence & Strategic Affairs, The Daily Star.