Put a full stop to such barbaric arson attack

Are we witnessing a return of barbaric era? Is there any upward trajectory for humanity at all? Where does the brutality and senseless sacrifice of lives for political motives find its limit?
Tragedy struck in the morning on Tuesday at Tejgaon railway station in the capital, as Popi found herself trapped in a compartment of the Mohonganj Express. In a horrific turn of events, she succumbed to the flames engulfing the train compartment. The charred bodies of a mother and child were brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, creating a scene of profound sorrow. Doctors had to separate the mother from baby Yasin. The hospital was immersed in a somber atmosphere as doctors, nurses, and visitors grappled with the shock of this heart-wrenching incident.

Adding to this distressing narrative, on December 13 near Bhawal station of Gazipur district, an act of sabotage took place on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway line. Miscreants cut the railway line with a gas cutter, causing seven coaches of the inter-city Mohonganj Express to derail, resulting in the death of a passenger named Aslam Hossain (35) and injuries to 13 others including the train driver. Such incidents, reminiscent of past occurrences, involving damage to state assets and potential loss of lives, are unequivocally unacceptable.

These incidents are not isolated occurrences; over 30 acts of vandalism have plagued the railways in the past two months. Cases have been filed in the railway police station, yet the apprehension of those responsible has been limited. A Railway Police official stated that at least 43 persons involved in sabotage have been identified, predominantly aged between 18 and 30.

The memory of the 5 January 2014 fire terror still lingers, with hundreds of vehicles burnt, hospitals echoing with the screams of victims, and places of worship set ablaze. The impending parliamentary elections seem to be a catalyst for a resurgence of violence and terrorism. While political motivations may be the root causes, it is the ordinary citizens who bear the brunt of such mindless acts.

Sabotage and atrocity should not have any place in the dictionary of politics. Citizens must exercise their democratic rights through peaceful means – thereby acknowledging that assemblies and protest processions are constitutional rights. In a democratic system, political parties can engage in systematic programmes without resorting to violence or terror.