The attack on the central office of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) in Dhaka’s Paltan area is a deeply disturbing reminder of the partisan hostility still poisoning our political landscape.
When political offices are stormed, vandalized, or targeted by mobs over alleged slogans or ideological grievances, democratic norms are fundamentally violated.
Reverting to street-level violence, intimidation, and reflexive mudslinging exposes a reckless disregard for civil order at a time when the nation can least afford political instability.
Instead of taking immediate responsibility or condemning mob behaviour, the immediate aftermath of the incident reduced to predictable finger-pointing, partisan denial, and blame-shifting.
This toxic reflex must end if we are to make any progress as a nation.
Political parties across the spectrum - whether in government or opposition - must recognize that their primary duty is to the citizens of Bangladesh, not to settle petty political scores or establish dominance through intimidation.
At a moment when the country is confronting severe economic pressures, turning political rivalries into physical clashes is an unpardonable distraction from the urgent work of national governance.
Allowing partisan mobs to operate with impunity under the guise of political grievance invites lawlessness and further fractures. Violence cannot be normalized as a tool for political expression.
Law enforcement agencies must investigate the Paltan attack with absolute impartiality, identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators regardless of their political affiliations.
The leadership of all political parties must also issue an unequivocal, zero-tolerance directive to their cadres against mob violence and political thuggery.
Bangladesh's democratic space has all but eroded, and we cannot think of reviving it if political dissent is met with bricks and iron rods. It is time for our political parties to focus their energies on what matters -- constructive policy, economic stabilization, and public service.
