Rule of law is key to holding peaceful polls

With the announcement of the polls schedule, the nation is in the throes of expectation. Barely two months away from the 13th national election, peace-loving people of this country are not all expectant of a smooth holding of polls and referendum on the July charter on February 12. Many keep their fingers crossed. This is despite the bragging of the chief adviser's press secretary that no power in the world can nullify polls on the scheduled date. 

The shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, the spokesperson for the Inquilab Manch and a probable candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, in broad daylight only a day after the polls schedule was announced will definitely give a message contrary to the chief adviser's press secretary would like the people to believe. Osman Hadi is not the only casualty of violence, as many as 119 people lost their lives in mob violence in seven months following the interim government's ascension to power. Nearly 300 people have been killed in political violence in a year since this government took over. 

An adviser once opined that the figure of death in political violence is not high in a country of 180-million population size. That is ludicrous. Law and order was never satisfactory during the time under review nor it is now. Traders are a soft target. Criminals are on their prowl. While people cannot resist the gun-toting thugs, they unleash their anger on vulnerable suspects often leaving the victims dead. In rare cases, the suspects are handed over to the law enforcement agencies. 

The old adage that violence breeds violence can hardly be challenged. If people in power make public statement that the casualty figures of political and mob violence is not high, it is quite an encouragement for the criminals to go ahead with their nefarious activities. Such irresponsible statements on top of lax law and order give rise to a social phobia. When acknowledgement of a decline in and indifference to law and order is a new norm, how can appropriate action be expected from the authorities? 

When the binary preference for denial instead of acceptance of the reality has convoluted the socio-political environment, there becomes a yawning credibility gap between the government and the governed. Vigilance against anti-social elements is tightened before a national election everywhere and even anti-social elements are put behind bars in order to maintain law and order and establish a congenial atmosphere. The rhetoric that attackers will be brought to justice is, even if the victim survives the gunshot, small consolation for the victim of close-range shooting and members of his family and supporters. Months before polls are everywhere volatile and the law enforcement agencies take extra-cautionary measures to thwart any threat to peaceful franchises. 

Much as the authorities may brag over the preparation for polls, violence---political or otherwise ---is not showing any sign of remission. The government credibility is suspect because its claim and the real situation do not match. The fact is, reports of killing or even internecine strife leaving party supporters dead or wounded are coming every single day. They may not be as high a profile as that of Hadi but to the family or the rural community the loss is irreparable. The psychological impact of such violent incidents on common voters is telling. As witness to the violence, they would not believe in the authorities' empty assurance. 

The rest of the two months' time is highly crucial. Another such murder will question the ability of the authorities to manage polls peacefully. This is despite the political parties' willingness to cooperate. When lives are lost in an atmosphere where the authorities have always reacted after the loss of lives instead of playing a proactive role to deter crimes, such incidents can hardly be contained. Now the authorities need to act decisively so much so that the voters can see that actions have taken effect on violence and crimes. Let there be no repeat of similar crimes and people will readily welcome the move. Send the culprits and suspected elements behind bars before it is too late.        

nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com