Upal Aditya Oikya:
On 5th May 2013, Hefajat-e-islam carried out a ‘Dhaka Blockade’ to protest bloggers who defamed Islam and the Prophet. They had previously carried out a similar programme in April, but this time, the programme became very violent. Many small shops were burnt down, the CPB office was set on fire, they cut down many trees on the streets, broke ATM booths and attempted to vandalize a branch of Janata Bank and allegedly also attacked a police station!. Given that when in opposition, our major political parties also carry out similar violent activities, including setting fire to transport, this kind of rioting have become the picture of our country’s art of protest (!!).
Once upon a time, we were under British rule, violence was not an instrument of spite but a method of protest against what was wrong in the society. But violence was used when necessary not whenever protesters felt like it. Swadesi movement is a prime example of non- violent protest against the British rule. Now we are independent, we have our own economy and country.
If political parties continuously declare hartals every week, it hinders the country’s economic growth. And, in our country, in the name of protest, those in the opposition create violence which slows down the country’s economy, hampering the country’s overall development. What does a hartal day mean? The working population cannot go to their places of work because of the road blocks and in some cases they are scared of losing their lives because of angry protests on the streets. Schools and colleges are closed, examinations are re-scheduled, and all types of public transport are banned from going on the streets. There are stories of arson on cars and buses almost every time hartals are called. So, there is nothing good that comes out of hartals.
Article 37 of the Constitution of Bangladesh very clearly mentions that every citizen has the right to assemble and to participate in public meetings peacefully and without arms, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of public order. So, every citizen of this country has the freedom of movement but they also have to follow the law. However, most of the time, our political parties do not follow the laws and create chaos with other parties and every time members of the general public become the victim. We have now come to expect violence on the roads whenever hartals are declared – not just on the days they are observed.
After hearing about the Rana plaza collapse, most of the garments factory workers came out of their workplace and started smashing vehicles. In Rampura area, 11 garments factory workers were maimed by police. Though the police were able to handle that situation but still now workers are not calm. They are claiming their security and safety which the government and many of the factory owners have failed to give them.
Article 10 of the Constitution states, all people are free from exploitation of man by man and deserve a just and egalitarian society. I’m afraid this section is mostly neglected in our country.
Article 14 of the Constitution tells about the emancipation of peasants and workers and also to protect them from all type of exploitation. Amazingly, this section is also mostly neglected (!!).
The protest of the factory workers is justified, but the point remains that the protests should be done in a way that does not involve violence or harm to other innocent parties. Violence is never a solution to anything. So the government has to think practically about this situation. May be, police can handle the situation temporarily but how many times can they control the people when their security of life becomes a question? If this problem is not solved immediately, the result will be very bad. Already the garments sector is in economic trouble because foreign countries are very much thwarted after the Rana plaza disaster. It is high time we think about the working class and for their betterment so that we don’t have to see another Rana plaza.
In my point of view, their protest was a reasonable one but what about the other protests done by political opposition and groups instigated by them? The Government has to impose strong rules against violent activities in the name of protest. Public reasoning is also important in this matter. In Bangladesh, the rate of violent activities is increasing day by day so our security force also has to increase their power. However, we must also ask ourselves this: why all the protest? Why all the frustration and violence? Increasing the power of the security forces also opens the door for abuse of power.
We expect a developed Bangladesh where nobody will be dominated or exploited. Both government and the public have to work together to make a beautiful Bangladesh. Political parties has to maintain the countries laws and order so that their protest don’t harm the general public, their property and public property, only then we can expect a real democracy.
Writer: Student, School of Law,BRAC University
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