Common folks in Bangladesh released the breath of ease when a 36-hour general strike countrywide ended at 6:00 pm today. Opposition party in parliament Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies enforced the strike protesting a government move to annul caretaker government system and 51 recommendations proposed by a special parliamentary committee to amend country’s constitutions. The strike locally known as ‘Hartal’ was second in last eight days after daylong strike on June 5.
Hartal is originally a Gujrati expression signifying closing down shops and warehouses with the object of realizing a demand. Like some other South Asian countries it is a favorite tool to political parties usually when they are not in power. In Bangladesh it is a political weapon frequently used to show agitation against government or ruling party’s decision.
Such a general strike is nightmare to common people who after every five years vote any of the parties to power to care for their interest, their rights. It brings the country to a standstill as all business and service institutions and organizations, except hospitals close down and vehicles stop plying. Empty streets and roads is the common feature on a strike day as people get scared with call for strike as it turns into violent clashes between picketers and law enforcers.
Picketers often torch vehicles, especially buses, the common mode of public transport in Bangladesh. They also vandalize any institution they find open. Most people dare not to come out of residences to avoid possible unpleasant incidents.
The lockdown is widely condemned by most of the people. A recent ucanews.com report shows how harmful such strike is and people hate it. It cripples public life and country’s economy counts huge loss.
The most interesting matter is usually the party that calls strike claims it has taken to streets to restore public interest with voluntary participation of people. Meanwhile, the ruling party says people reject it observing normality of life. Both make people shields for their interest while they are ought to care for public interest. What a farce!
36-hour shut-down was unusually peaceful except some stray violent incidents. From Sunday morning to Monday evening more than ten buses were set ablaze, but no major casualties of fatalities reported. It happened because the government took hard line to stop the strike. Law enforcers took stern actions not to allow opposition activists hold protest rallies and mobile courts in the cities punished hundreds of activist who allegedly gathered for anarchy.
This afternoon a ruling party leader claimed the strike was rejected by people and thus became futile. While opposition leaders said it was a great success and blamed government for suppressing their democratic rights to hold protest rallies. It also declared agitation demos on June 15-15 across the country to protest alleged harassment of its activists by law keepers and mobile courts. It also threatened to call for longer agitation programs including strikes to oust the Awami League-led grand alliance government.
It seems that country’s political conditions are returning to old ugly traits after nearly one peaceful year. The strikes, agitations and clashes between various political party activists are common trends in country’s poor political culture. When in power political parties always promise not take up violent path that hampers public interest. But they forget it when they run for their own interest, to make a political issue.
People say political leaders should avoid violent paths if they really care for their interest, their rights. Do they really care for what people say or think? Do you need an answer?
@ UCAN Blogs on June 14, 2011
UCAN Blogs- Give Us This Day
 |
| A general strike day in Dhaka |
Common folks in Bangladesh released the breath of ease when a 36-hour general strike countrywide ended at 6:00 pm today. Opposition party in parliament Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies enforced the strike protesting a government move to annul caretaker government system and 51 recommendations proposed by a special parliamentary committee to amend country’s constitutions. The strike locally known as ‘Hartal’ was second in last eight days after daylong strike on June 5.
Hartal is originally a Gujrati expression signifying closing down shops and warehouses with the object of realizing a demand. Like some other South Asian countries it is a favorite tool to political parties usually when they are not in power. In Bangladesh it is a political weapon frequently used to show agitation against government or ruling party’s decision.
Such a general strike is nightmare to common people who after every five years vote any of the parties to power to care for their interest, their rights. It brings the country to a standstill as all business and service institutions and organizations, except hospitals close down and vehicles stop plying. Empty streets and roads is the common feature on a strike day as people get scared with call for strike as it turns into violent clashes between picketers and law enforcers.
Picketers often torch vehicles, especially buses, the common mode of public transport in Bangladesh. They also vandalize any institution they find open. Most people dare not to come out of residences to avoid possible unpleasant incidents.
The lockdown is widely condemned by most of the people. A recent ucanews.com report shows how harmful such strike is and people hate it. It cripples public life and country’s economy counts huge loss.
The most interesting matter is usually the party that calls strike claims it has taken to streets to restore public interest with voluntary participation of people. Meanwhile, the ruling party says people reject it observing normality of life. Both make people shields for their interest while they are ought to care for public interest. What a farce!
36-hour shut-down was unusually peaceful except some stray violent incidents. From Sunday morning to Monday evening more than ten buses were set ablaze, but no major casualties of fatalities reported. It happened because the government took hard line to stop the strike. Law enforcers took stern actions not to allow opposition activists hold protest rallies and mobile courts in the cities punished hundreds of activist who allegedly gathered for anarchy.
This afternoon a ruling party leader claimed the strike was rejected by people and thus became futile. While opposition leaders said it was a great success and blamed government for suppressing their democratic rights to hold protest rallies. It also declared agitation demos on June 15-15 across the country to protest alleged harassment of its activists by law keepers and mobile courts. It also threatened to call for longer agitation programs including strikes to oust the Awami League-led grand alliance government.
It seems that country’s political conditions are returning to old ugly traits after nearly one peaceful year. The strikes, agitations and clashes between various political party activists are common trends in country’s poor political culture. When in power political parties always promise not take up violent path that hampers public interest. But they forget it when they run for their own interest, to make a political issue.
People say political leaders should avoid violent paths if they really care for their interest, their rights. Do they really care for what people say or think? Do you need an answer?
@ UCAN Blogs on June 14, 2011
UCAN Blogs- Give Us This Day
