The alarming deterioration of law and order in the capital ahead of the expected International Crimes Tribunal verdict date marks one of the most serious security challenges for the interim government since the July Uprising. The reported incidents of arson, crude bomb attacks, and even daylight murder reflect a deliberate attempt by the banned Awami League and its sympathisers to destabilise the country at a critical juncture. These acts are not spontaneous outbursts of anger — they are coordinated efforts to create fear, uncertainty, and a sense of chaos that could undermine the government’s authority and derail the transition process.
The situation demands not just vigilance but firmness. The interim government must take decisive measures to ensure that no outlawed political element finds space to exploit the current moment. The “Dhaka lockdown” programme reportedly planned by the banned Awami League is not a political protest; it is a calculated provocation. Allowing such attempts to succeed, even partially, would embolden those who wish to reverse the gains made since the fall of the fascist regime. The government’s launch of “Operation Devil Hunt” and large-scale security drills is therefore timely and justified. But the effectiveness of these efforts will depend on coordination, intelligence, and swift enforcement — not mere show of force.
The repeated incidents of violence — buses torched in Dhanmondi, Merul Badda, and Shahjadpur, and crude bombs detonated near hospitals, schools, and religious establishments — are not only criminal acts but direct attacks on the nation’s sense of safety. The culprits must be identified and punished quickly and transparently. At the same time, law enforcement agencies must ensure that ordinary citizens are not harassed or inconvenienced in the process of heightened security operations. The credibility of the interim administration depends on maintaining both firmness and fairness.
Beyond the state apparatus, political parties too have a vital role. They must rise above partisan considerations and collectively resist attempts to revive terrorism and anarchy in the name of politics. Silence or neutrality in the face of sabotage will be seen as complicity. The spirit of the July Charter — built on consensus, accountability, and justice — requires that all responsible political actors reject violence as a tool for political expression.
This is a defining moment for New Bangladesh. The government’s plan to hold a general election in February depends on the country’s stability over the next few months. Any slide into chaos will jeopardise that goal and prolong the uncertainty that the people are desperate to leave behind. The interim government must therefore act harshly and swiftly, guided by law but unflinching in determination. The revolution that gave birth to this new era must not be hijacked by the very forces that once sought to crush it.
Firmness, unity, and vigilance — these must be the guiding principles now. The people of Bangladesh have suffered too much to see their new dawn shrouded again in smoke and fear.
