Before the Start of the Election Campaign, Were Four Bodies Necessary?

Publish: 22 Dec 2023, 06:08 AM

Fire in train in Tejgaon
On Tuesday morning, tragic news brought tears to the people of Bangladesh. Four individuals, including a mother and a child, lost their lives when three compartments of the Mohanganj Express train set on fire in Tejgaon, the capital.
Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station, relayed accounts from passengers stating that the train was en route from Netrakona to Dhaka. As the train passed the airport station and reached Khilkhet, passengers noticed the coaches ablaze and began shouting. The train driver halted at Tejgaon station.
According to some online reports, a victim mentioned sightings of two individuals in railway attire before the fire broke out. They were seen carrying fire extinguishers.
The crucial point is the necessity to ascertain, through proper investigation, the individuals responsible for arson. However, in cases of sabotage, such investigations have not been observed. The ruling Awami League government consistently points fingers at the BNP for these incidents. Over the past decade, from the AL's president to its general secretary, blame has been laid on the BNP during state events or party gatherings. However, upon closer scrutiny, there hasn't been a credible trial of bus or transportation fires.
Conversely, the politicisation of these events is escalating. BNP continues to face accusations from various quarters. Influenced by the official narrative, the country's intellectuals and civil society have developed an aversion toward BNP. Yet, in any democratic nation, justice in cases of sabotage is imperative. The trial will reveal the guilty party. Until then, civil society is becoming a casualty of Awami League's scheme to gain political advantage by implicating the BNP.
This is why the Awami League managed to organise another one-sided election. Many distanced themselves from the Awami League due to severe pressure and harassment. However, this is a recent trend. Previously, due to media reports, television coverage, and the opinions of intellectuals, the BNP was falsely established as a saboteur. However, with the growing influence of social media, mainstream media and intellectuals no longer possess that sway. The truth about the perpetrators of such vandalism is now being disseminated directly by the victims through social media platforms.
Evidence from various cases suggests the involvement of government party members in these arson incidents. Pankaj Nath, a member of the government party, faced public accusations of involvement in an arson incident from his party leader. As a result, Awami League did not nominate him this time due to these publicly substantiated allegations. Yet, despite being a dual citizen, Awami League nominated another candidate, Shammi Ahmed, who is ineligible to contest elections. The Election Commission annulled his nomination as a dual citizen cannot hold an MP position. The party, aware of this regulation, still endorsed him. Was this to get Pankaj Nath elected by other means?
There's no way to find answers to these questions. But citizens now understand Awami League's strategy, especially the public perception that government party members are behind the sabotage. Despite blaming the BNP for the fires, doubts linger about whether the train fire incident served a similar purpose.
As the Awami League prepares to embark on its election tour, commencing with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rally in Sylhet on Wednesday, it's expected that they will attribute responsibility to the BNP for the train fire incident that claimed four lives. Yet, all top BNP leaders are incarcerated as elections approach, and numerous activists remain imprisoned. Needless to day, BNP leaders are not able to mobilise street protests or resistance. So, why must the Awami League mention the BNP in their election campaign?
This can be understood from a statement by the Minister of Agriculture. He remarked, "The Election Commission has consistently conveyed that if the BNP participates in the election, there will be a postponement. Not just a postponement, but they have also indicated the release of everyone from jail. Had they not arrested 20,000 leaders and activists, would the strike have proceeded that day? Aside from this, there was no alteration for us or alternative."
His statement validated what people had assumed. The government forcefully disrupted the BNP rally on October 28. Party leaders were arrested to prevent their participation in the polls. Despite subsequent arrests, pressures, and incentives, they remained absent from the elections. The Minister of Agriculture's statement substantiates these assumptions.
In this scenario, another disastrous act of sabotage was required to assert that the BNP is not absent or falsely implicated but involved in actual crimes. Whether the Agriculture Minister's statement led to the loss of four lives remains uncertain. Only a thorough investigation can this be established.