Amidst the darkest political hour, the country underwent another shocking night just hours before the farcical election when a train was set ablaze causing deaths and despair.

Arson on vehicles and deaths is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh but the blazing of Bonolota Express produced the sort of visuals that was appalling even for the people who almost got accustomed with the ghastly images.

Over the last 10 years we have seen just when the opposition party started to keep political pressure on the government to hold an election under a neutral government, these sorts of arson attacks used to increase.

The government’s propaganda machine used to blame opposition parties for such heinous acts and at least before the 2014 election, which was infamous for 153 ruling party candidates elected unopposed, many people believed so. 

However, the law enforcement agencies and top government planners still might have some lack of communications and we saw many Awami League and Chhattra League activists were arrested while attempting to commit arson. Pankaj Debnath, an Awami League leader and member of the parliament, was caught red-handed as the planner of the crime. Much evidence was found that Awami League thugs were behind the crimes. 

But their propaganda machine prevails and the same tactic was used behind the 2018 election, which was infamous for night-time voting, but this time the public perception was changed. By then the propaganda machine became even stronger but the atrocity of the tyranny was more or less exposed.

The thing started once again just when BNP and its like-minded parties started gaining momentum in political field. Arson became frequent and the most spectacular one was the one with Bonolota Express. 

The cliché arrived just after the incident. Some media, otherwise known as the government mouthpiece, started to blame opposition parties. The top law enforcement officers straightaway uttered some preset words pointing finger to opposition leaders. 

Yet, no investigative report came out. It never does. The propaganda machine always blames oppositions but they never follow-up. Why do the investigative reports not come out? When we see opposition leaders are caught for very minor and fabricated charges and caught promptly, why don’t we see the culprits behind the arsons arrested with solid proof? Above all, with a huge arrangement of security, such incidents take place and every time the culprits fly away?

And if one considers the prior political actions, it is seen BNP and its like-minded parties have been emphasising on peaceful protests. Despite myriad of agitations, they were never found to be going for murderous actions. While Awami League has the legacy of being ultra-aggressive. There are endless proofs. 

And even beyond that, what would the opposition party gain from such things? Already they are ravaged with endless legal cases and endure incredible levels of harassment. Had they been really involved with such crimes, the government would gleefully take the opportunity and showcase the whole thing to the public and the world to ban them. But that never happens. And if one considers the attitude of the ruling party it is evident they would never miss such a chance. 

The Boxer: The author is one of the indefatigable working-class Bangladeshis who have been trying to change the fate of the nation but were betrayed by the ruling elites and autocrats. The name is inspired by a character in George Orwell's 1945 novel Animal Farm.