We condemn and are shocked by the attack on the Jatiya Party (JaPa) headquarters on Thursday, which was set on fire after being vandalized. Whatever the issues one may have with any political party in the country, resorting to such violent measures is never the solution.
This is yet another reminder of a troubling trend of violence that we have historically seen in this nation, and we are particularly saddened to see that we are unable to correct our ways, despite the hope that was brought to the nation after the events of July and early August.
That we once again saw law enforcement agencies failing to stop this attack from escalating, or prevent the premises from being set ablaze, is also telling of a dangerous situation that is brewing, one that should not be acceptable.
Peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement are essential components for resolving conflicts and fostering an environment where all voices can be heard. It is very unfortunate how, once again, tensions have escalated to the point where violent means appeared to be the solution.
We must ask: At a time when Bangladesh is navigating extremely complex challenges, was resorting to such destructive actions truly productive? We have many pressing issues that are currently affecting millions of Bangladeshis, issues that require immense effort and thoughtful discussion to address. Instead, this chain of violence is only hindering our ability to address these deeper issues.
The responsibility to fix this lies with the advisors in the interim government who have been tasked and chosen to bring about stability and calm to our nation. We expect them to not only denounce such acts unequivocally, but also collectively reaffirm our commitment to non-violence and dialogue and ensure that this trend of mob justice is brought to a halt.
Violence does not build, it destroys. We must choose peace over destruction for the sake of our nation’s future.
