3 days of strike is nothing more than Panta Bhat

If the government is not sincere to compromise, and If Sheikh Hasina is not sincere then she will find plenty of her party men discouraging her not to compromise. For instance, 3 days of Strike announced by Khalida Zia is dubbed as Panta Bhat (Rice soaked in water) by Awami stalwart Maya.  And he is correct, it is nothing but a flies prick, we have seen many short strikes which had very little impact on government ability to function.  Unless it is something that would severely cripple government, then it well remain as Panta Bhat as usual. The much awaited 25^th October dubbed as a ‘Day of Revolt’ passed without major incidence. That was a relief for the Awamileague who had been expecting mayhem from Shibir and BNP activists. And many were contemplating on leaving the country if things got out of hand. Pretty much like 2006, Loghi Boita War Zone. But alas! Khoka’s Machete and Axes threat was a child bluff. I doubt on his claim to be a freedom fighter, he probably only held a rifle, but never fired at his enemy, in fact it was because of him, and his reluctance to agree with Begum Zia’s announcement on 5^th of May, Dhaka BNP activists stayed away from pouring in the streets. That declaration by Khalida Zia was a real threat to unseat the government unlike the Panta Bhat, but couldn’t find anyone to join in the feast. So the opportunity was wasted, defeated and killed on the Night of 6^th May.

Now this new deadline will probably pass without major break through, because Sheikh Hasina will be embolden that no doomsday had happened as was expected, so she would want to wait and see if the opposition threat carries any weight. Meanwhile back door negotiation is continuing and it is yet to be seen if real pressure will be applied by our countries development partners. One thing is increasingly becoming clear, BNP’s activists don’t have the stomach for a fight, or not many activists may be their supporters. BNP’s student wing is very weak, and without the hot blooded young men, a forceful removal of the government will not happen. Why? Because the gentlemen like Fokhrul Islam Alomgir, and frail and old first and second line of their leaders are not made for fighting a war or a revolution. Only Elias Ali had some guts and fervour to do things daring, but his grave most probably is growing trees or it may be his burnt out ashes endlessly floating in the sea.

So when Shibir leaders say that they will show BNP how to remove Hasina, they probably want a joint operation with BNP activists led by them, but in the absence of BNP’s activist’s presence, they probably don’t want to sacrifice their activists lives for BNP to benefit without any contribution.  On the other hand, BNP’s activists are betting on Shibirs action to remove the government, because they think Jamat has to do something to save their leaders from hanging. In reality, to be effective, joint operations are needed by Shibir and Chatro Dall to bring a collapse of the government. If they are not prepared to do daring acts, and take on the Gopalish police and Awami thugs, then the alternative only solution could come from back door agreement with our foreign development partners and that may take some times.

Meanwhile Awamileague will be doing their best to wrong foot BNP through their different schemes of falls cases and arrests, and maybe entice BNP’s frail leaders with offers of riches, and position.  They may arrest more of Jamat Shibir men to stem off fuel of Begums Zia’s threat. By the time she decides to go for all out war, there may not be many activists left to carry out her declaration. Unless, Jamat Shibir and BNP are keeping men in reserve like Khaled Bin Waleed or Qaqaa Bin Tamimi, in that case, they are equal to thousand men, and they never lost a battle.
 

We are hearing Interim government head to be President Abdul Hamid according to Awamileague sources. Sheikh Hasina would not go outside elected members. She may speak with Khalida by Saturday night. If opposition accept this offer, the match will be a draw, but awamileague will win by points, and as a result, the possibility remains of vote rigging, and a win for Hasina. Begum Zia rather should commit suicide than accept an Awamileague headed interim government. In any case, the issues are more than only head of interim government. Question must be answered about civil administration politicization.

In  summary, 25^th October was no where near our expectations. It was certainly not the final, and many warm up is waiting for us before a decisive final is played. But you never know, in a football match, there is always a possibility of a draw. Usually after ninety minutes the players get exhausted and finally settle for a draw, much depending on the Goal keeper, in that case Hasina and Khaleda.