BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia returned home at 12:20pm on Sunday after staying at her political office in Gulshan almost under a siege for three months.
On 3 January, she arrived at the office from her Gulshan residence Feroza and the law enforcers then confined her there with sand-laden trucks. When she was not allowed to go out to attend a public rally, she announced a countrywide non-stop blockade and stayed there. Even the death of her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco could not stop her from going ahead with her party’s programme.
She said the blockade would continue until the movement finds its ‘logical consequences’.
In the meantime, the people experienced delirious acts of petrol attacks on innocents, in one hand, and extra-judicial killing and harassment of many by the law enforcers, on the other.
Spates of hartal enforced on weekdays alongside the blockade created fear and concerns among the people. Mass arrests and forced disappearance of people, especially of political leaders and activists, added further anxiety to them.
One and a half million SSC candidates sat for examinations with fear and uncertainty. And on 1 April, HSC examinations began amid tensions.
Many day-labourers risked their lives and went outside for their livelihoods. Some of them sacrificed their lives to political violence, particularly petrol bomb attacks. Some are still suffering in the hospital.
Unfortunately, all these violence and its high costs could not raise any awareness among our adamant politicians.
The two major parties remained rigid as if nothing – killing of people, economic losses and damage to national image – matters to them.
Time did fly as we left behind January, February and also March. The people wondered when the movement would come to an end.
Then came the announcement of the city corporation polls and a tacit consensus seemed to have evolved among the political parties.
The arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia did not reach the police station even after 40 days, although the ruling party ministers reiterated that the BNP leader would be arrested.
To the people’s surprise, the BNP announced to join the city corporation elections, should a congenial atmosphere is created.The BNP delegates went to the election commission and leaders collected nomination papers for the city polls.
On Friday, the government withdrew the police force deployed around the BNP central office in Naya Paltan and allowed the party leaders to enter the office.
On Sunday, Khaleda Zia went to the court and appealed for bail. Even the state lawyers did not oppose.
Upon getting bail, Khaleda Zia returned to her home, Feroza, and thus ended a dramatic chain of events of three months. It is quite likely that everyone will abide by the law.
We hope that the political leaders will show respect to each other despite their ideological differences.
It is expected that they will understand limits and will not make the people hostage to politics.
We hope they will not burn people to death nor will they abduct the political opponents.
We welcome Khaleda Zia for she has returned home. Now, let democracy return to the country.
Source: Prothom-Alo