The Conspiracy to Create an Anarchic Situation Must Be Foiled

There are signs of a conspiracy against the BNP government barely six months after it came to power with a landslide victory. While the country’s fragile economic and administrative systems are in the process of stabilising, attempts appear to be underway to bring down the government through the combined efforts of domestic and foreign groups. This is evident from threats issued by opposition parties and the violent activities of the Awami League, whose activities have been banned.

According to political observers, the Jamaat-NCP alliance’s politics of opposing the government simply for the sake of opposition amounts to nothing more than “politics without purpose.” Their politics lacks constructive and directional initiatives. The NCP, formed with young people after leading the July uprising, has also lost its direction. As a political party, it lacks the clear goals, objectives, ideology and philosophy that it should have. The party has become a “lost” political force, seemingly following the logic of “taking to the road only to lose the way.”

Meanwhile, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina on August 5 following the mass uprising, Jamaat-e-Islami moved rapidly to place its people in the administration, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, the health sector and other areas, seeking to establish sweeping dominance. It exerted considerable influence over the interim government and effectively became a “shadow government.” At one point, the interim government appeared to have to act according to the wishes of Jamaat and the NCP.

As a result, Jamaat assumed that it was certain to come to power. Before the election, it also brought the NCP into its alliance. But in the February 12 election, Jamaat’s dream was shattered as the BNP won two-thirds of the seats. The Jamaat-NCP alliance took seats on the opposition benches.

It goes without saying that when excessive expectations turn into disappointment, they give rise to anger. This has been evident within Jamaat and the NCP. As a result, barely six months into the BNP government’s tenure, some NCP leaders have threatened to bring down the government by December. A few days ago, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman threatened at a long march towards Rangpur that their eight-point demand would turn into a single-point demand — meaning a demand to bring down the government. Their activities indicate that these threats are not merely political rhetoric.

Various conspiracies to destabilise and cloud the political environment and put the government under pressure have become visible. The Jamaat-NCP threats to bring down the government, the underground activities of the banned Awami League and its leader Sheikh Hasina’s announcement that she would return to the country in December have emerged as central elements of this conspiracy. The recent heightened activities and inappropriate remarks by Indian Ambassador Dinesh Trivedi are also raising concerns about the situation.

Political analysts say the Jamaat-NCP’s contradictory politics without a clear agenda is being combined with the violent activities of the banned Awami League. They are allegedly trying to turn minor incidents into major ones to create instability.

They are opposing the city corporation’s public welfare initiatives to regulate auto-rickshaws, which have become a “cancer” in the capital, and to remove hawkers from footpaths, while allegedly trying to provoke them and create anarchy. Auto-rickshaw drivers have held rallies and threatened the government. Their leaders have warned that they can bring Dhaka to a standstill within a day.

There are allegations that Jamaat is supporting them, from arranging rallies and meetings to providing assistance through party activists. It has long been alleged that fugitives from the Awami League and its affiliated organisations have been driving auto-rickshaws in the capital in disguise. They are reportedly waiting for an opportunity to create instability through violent activities.

Observers believe Jamaat and the NCP are providing covert support to such efforts. Whenever the government takes steps to control reckless auto-rickshaws to reduce traffic congestion and restore order, Jamaat sides with the drivers, citing unemployment. At the same time, it criticises the government for failing to resolve traffic congestion. Similarly, when the government moves to remove hawkers from footpaths to ensure safe and unobstructed movement for pedestrians, it protests on their behalf.

Political analysts believe that apart from such contradictory politics, there is little else to Jamaat’s political activities. The party has also faced an image crisis over alleged misconduct by some of its MPs and activists and the involvement of its members in various incidents. It appears to have fallen into directionless politics. Meanwhile, the NCP has also lost its political way because of its lack of a clear objective.

It is natural for public anger to grow over unusually high prices of gas, electricity and fuel and the rising cost of essential commodities. Middle- and lower-income people are struggling to make ends meet. While prices of all goods have increased, their incomes have not. The gap between income and expenditure has widened considerably.

In developed countries, people’s incomes are taken into account before prices are raised. Their incomes are increased first so that price hikes do not cause excessive hardship. In Bangladesh, however, the government increases prices without adequately considering this issue. As a result, public resentment against the government grows.

Although people are angry with the government over rising prices, they are not responding to the opposition parties’ and the Awami League’s anti-government rhetoric or their alleged attempts to bring down the government. They know that the opposition parties have no effective political programme.

Meanwhile, although Hasina has been making provocative statements from Delhi and encouraging her supporters in Bangladesh to engage in violence, these efforts have failed. People have not forgotten the Awami League’s 15-year rule or the mass killings during the uprising. They will criticise the government and express their grievances, but they will not fall into a conspiracy aimed at bringing down the government.

At the same time, the government’s biggest enemy is its own failure. According to observers, the government’s failures could strengthen the opposition and the Awami League. Therefore, the government must overcome its shortcomings quickly.

The government must take firm action against attempts by the opposition parties and the Awami League to create instability over battery-powered auto-rickshaws and the removal of hawkers from footpaths. Illegal activities and prohibited businesses cannot be allowed to become legitimate or receive state patronage; they must be brought under control.

The government must unravel the alleged network of political motives and conspiracies being woven around the issue of auto-rickshaws. It must identify those involved, trace the origins of the movement and determine who is behind it.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman should instruct the authorities to gather information through his own trusted sources and take effective measures. If necessary, a dedicated force should be deployed to continuously monitor the situation and take appropriate action.

The government must adopt a zero-tolerance policy and root out any source of attempts to create anarchy.