Time to talk about solutions

The much talked about 10th parliamentary election was held amidst unprecedented violence and one of the lowest voter turnouts in memory. As expected, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, is once again in the driving seat to run the country.

It is obvious that Sheikh Hasina is about to face the toughest challenges in implementing whatever visions she has in her mind. Holding the election amidst a boycott by the main parties has left her party alienated at home as well as beyond Bangladesh’s boundary.

Now, she has no scope to dwell on problems instead of talking about solutions. Her first task will be to come up with a clear and decisive policy to address terrorism.

Sheikh Hasina and her government are squeezed in the television talk shows and newspaper editorials. Some of the criticisms were unwarranted and unnecessary. However, the area in which more should have been said is the making of a good strategy to bring the opposition to the dialogue table in order to make her path to governance smooth.

It has to be commended that despite Sheikh Hasina’s deep concern about the havoc wreaked by terrorists, a sense of urgency has been missing since the beginning of the violence unleashed by Jamaat-Shibir men in different pockets of the country such as Rajshahi, Bogra, Satkhira, Sitakunda and Gaibandha.

There has actually been an increase in the number of terrorist activities immediately after the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal against Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee.

While the home minister has talked about taking effective measures by law enforcers, we have seen Jamaat-Shibir violently attack not only AL activists, minorities, and common people, but also police personnel.

The time has come to establish an effective system and an institutional framework to eliminate terrorists, and to ensure peace and stability, so that businesses are operated, educational institutions can continue to run, and people feel the confidence to move about without fear or anxiety.

At the very outset, the government has to create a general impression that it is moving fast enough to bring peace and stability. Terrorists and anti-social elements have to be dealt with. This should be done with greater commitment, not with arrogance.

Surely, it is a daunting situation, and it is not easy to settle things quickly. But delays in catching the bull by the horns will only make the problem all the more difficult to handle.

Bangladesh, despite huge development achievements during the last five years, will face formidable challenges domestically while more difficulties are to be faced from the international community too.

Sheikh Hasina needs to be careful in her strategy to go with the international community’s efforts for peace and reconciliation in the country. There is little space to overlook the regional powers too.

While the friendship needs to be maintained, Bangladesh should also continue to seek dialogue and resolutions for all outstanding issues with India.

As for talks with BNP, the dialogue, according to Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, will take place only when BNP announces that it is no longer with the Jamaat-e-Islami. The government has to understand that the imposition of too many conditions will put the peace effort at risk.

Both the AL and BNP should understand that Bangladesh cannot achieve any target without strengthening the economy. Electricity and other infrastructural issues should be at the top of all priority issues for development.

Sheikh Hasina, her party, and above all, Bangladesh has had to pay a huge price for this election, which according to the ruling coalition was “to maintain constitutional process to continue democracy.”

Now, she has to motivate the people to help the government in its great task to overcome the country’s formidable economic, security, and administrative problems. This is the time to show leadership. This is the time to talk about a new Bangladesh.