A Catch-22 situation

It's a Catch-22 situation so to say. There is no step back from the brink and no let up in the chain of violence. The scream of the dead and the dying reverberates while the air reeks of the smell of charred remains of body parts. The vicious cycle of bombing and arson is intensified by a calibrated hardening of government's position. It seems that there is no blockade without force and violence and without blockade there is no way of forcing a national dialogue on the government, which is growing increasingly irresponsive.

Over the last twenty days 'online public opinion' conducted by major dailies favour a dialogue between the government and the opposition for tackling the crisis peacefully. Who does not want democracy  and a truly representative government formed through a free and fair election? But nothing is desirable at the cost of human lives. International concerns that have stake in Bangladesh want the matter resolved through democratic means. Stop the bloodshed for God's sake.

Yusuf Azad
Chief Evaluation Officer (Retd.)
Education Board Office
Rajshahi