Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Saturday said reaching a consensus over the general election will not be enough to stop the politics of violence in the country. Addressing a discussion meeting at Cirdap, he observed that the recent politics of violence is an outcome of the post-1990 nourishment of ‘militancy’ by all the political parties alongside reinstallation of democratic practices. He said the recent violence over the political crisis is targeted to upset the socio-economic development in many ways, such as destroying the communication, agricultural production and the education. The discussion meeting, titled ‘Militancy and Violent Politics: Impacts on Workers, General People and Different Socio-economic Sectors’, was organised by Farm Labourers Rights Platform. Speaking on the occasion, Post and Telecommunications Minister Rashed Khan Menon also echoed Inu’s concern, saying, “You could hold an outstanding election, but will see the rise of militancy, if the violent attacks on the transportation system, communal attacks, and its Talebani association were not abandoned.” “The members of the democracy club will only be those who’ll shun the association of the militant,” he said. Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat said the recent violence over political grounds have caused immense damage to the supply chain of the economy. “We’ve estimated that the economy has suffered damages worth Tk 1 lakh crore because of the violent programmes over the last few months. The indirect loss will stand at a few lakh crore taka,” he said. Barkat noted that the violence by the opposition is also linked to the Jamaat-i-Islami’s agenda of foiling the trial of war criminals. President of Bangladesh Bhumihin Samity Subal Sarkar said marginal farmers and the farm labourers are passing through hard times because of the disruption of communication during the rail, road, waterway blockades. He demanded government incentives for the affected farmers and farm labourers. The discussion meeting was presided over by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad. – UNB
