Dhaka’s Political Heat

Violence, fanaticism, and political manoeuvring cast shadows over Bangladesh’s election run-up, exposing vulnerabilities in governance and security

- 

Ahead of this upcoming election in Bangladesh, amid the prevailing turbulent times, enough political heat is generated in the political and social fabric of the country, and the ongoing trend doesn't look very promising.

In these very columns, very recently, it was highlighted that the string of violent happenings is lashing the country. In the ongoing thread of violence, Bongobeer Qader @ Tiger Siddiqui’s Tangail house was attacked and brutally vandalised recently, and the noted freedom fighter’s cars were also torched as an act of mindless assault on a pro-liberation individual who is so revered. Kader Siddiqui is also the founder and President of the Krishak Shramik League. Liberal and secular forces are very upset over the alarmingly rising cases of targeting of forces opposed by the fanatics, clearly indicating that acts of religious intolerance are on the rise. It's also baffling to note that the security agencies are completely muted and helpless, even though there has been a regime change for over one year, and still, there is not an iota of improvement in the law-and-order scene of the country. It’s even more frustrating that the army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) are invested with more powers than before, and yet they are proven ineffective time and again.