Not even 50 days into the new Interim Government's assuming of office, frequent and unexpected incidents of unrest, chaos and violent conflicts erupting almost at each and every corner the country continues to disturb us all.
In fact the list of turmoil is quite long as well as alarming ranging from a failed judicial coup, police and the public administration's marked reluctance to restore law, order & discipline, the sudden revolt within the Para-military force Ansar, vandalising temples and shrines to triggering unrest and closure of hundreds of RMG factories to the recent violence reported from the hill tracts. And unquestionably, a sweeping silent mood of disobedience and non-cooperation from various 'vested groups' has become ubiquitous.
Though we had welcomed the interim government for its promising reform programmes while formulating a roadmap for restoring democracy leading up to the next general elections, we also expect the government's advisors and policy makers to tackle these unexpected challenges in a more pragmatic and efficient manner by incorporating the public.
However, three government advisors visited Rangamati and Khagrachhari on Saturday and voiced the same apprehension by pointing fingers at 'vested groups' with sinister political intensions engaged in destabilising the country, so to place the interim government in an embarrassing situation. They asked everyone to remain vigilant, instructing army and law enforcement agencies operating in the hill tracts to show maximum restraint.
We are in full agreement with the advisors' call, particularly on the subject of 'vested groups' otherwise, wicked beneficiaries of the immediate past government's 15 plus years of misrule. That said - we fear more attempts to disturb and destabilise the interim government are in the offing, and will be unleashed through unwarranted conspiratorial moves.
Remaining alert and vigilant will not be enough, unless the people enthusiastically participate to keep the ghosts of the past fascist regime at bay.
Since the country's key law enforcement agency, the police, is unlikely to resume full-fledged duties with a renewed commitment throughout the country anytime soon, current situation calls for launching community policing supervised by local and community leaders. They will have to play a pivotal role in safeguarding communal harmony and peaceful co-existence, irrespective of colour, creed and religious identities. In addition, we call on our intelligence community to turn more active in these turbulent times to detect and defuse potential threats to our safety and security.
So far, our army has done a commendable job in terms of restoring some degree of discipline by aiding the civil administration, distributing relief aid among flood victims and combating corruption. Now endowed with magisterial responsibilities, the army's shoulders have manifestly become heavily burdened.
In short, the country belongs to all of us, so let us prevent all attempts of sabotage and conspiracy together.
