http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/02/25/d40225020130.htm
The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 266
Wed. February 25, 2004
We find no word strong enough to decry the pre-meditated attack on Gano Forum
president Dr Kamal Hossain's motorcade in Chittagong on his way to Rangamati
Monday. The natural question to ask is: why the local administration failed
to avert it despite information about Dr Kamal's movement being available to
them in advance? The Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati explained that the incident
took place at Raozan upazila in Chittagong district which is outside his jurisdiction.
What was the Raozan upazila administration, or for that matter the Chittagong
district administration doing? The Gano Forum president had spoken to the deputy
commissioner (DC) and superintendent of police (SP) of Chittagong before undertaking
the journey. The police assured protection after 10am but we didn't find any
policeman around when we came under attack, alleged Dr Kamal Hossain.
It appears to be a tell-tale story of letting things happen. But the diametrically
opposite view is sought to be projected by the Home Minister and the Adhikar
Andolon people who said respectively that it was the doing of armed guards accompanying
Dr Kamal and a pure fabrication. The conclusion that the attack could have been
pre-meditated seemed to be borne out by the fact that the anti-peace treaty
Parbatya Samoadhikar Andolon had earlier declared Dr Kamal Hossain, Santu Larma,
Moni Swapan Dewan and Manik Lal Dewan persona non grata.
This may be interpreted as democratic space being denied to Dr Kamal Hossain
-- in addition to its denial to the opposition AL. Since the BNP came to power
two years ago, the ruling party has been giving the impression that it is not
opposed to the CHT peace accord. On the contrary, it is supportive of it. In
fact, BNP secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan headed a committee to facilitate
implementation of the agreement.
Now, the pro-government Parbatya Samoadhikar Andolon led by local BNP MP which
has been resisting the peace accord is apparently raising the indigenous people
versus settler issue.
It is heartening that Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has asked the concerned
to take legal action against the attackers, regardless of their party affiliations.
Her directive must be implemented to the hilt if the credibility of the government
has to come clean on it.