Arson attacks continue

On Monday, a crude bomb blast in the TSC area left a housewife and a university student injured and a bus was torched in the Shahbagh area. Almost every day there is at least one incident of individuals  sustaining horrific burn injuries or a vehicle being burnt. The violence seems to be part and parcel of the BNP- led alliance's never-ending blockade–hartal programme, freshly announced every few days. Two times a prime minister and leader of the Opposition, Begum Khaleda Zia's ruthless programme has left people shocked and helpless.

Despite the constant risk to life and limb, people have chosen to come out on the streets to go about the business of survival. They have no other choice. Yet Khaleda Zia and her alliance apparently have no desire to alleviate the misery of the people. They have decided to go on with their punishing programme.

The DCC and CCC polls offer a window for the BNP to take part in two major electoral contests. It also affords an opportunity for them to return to constitutional politics by eschewing hartal and oborodh.

The government, meanwhile, seems to have had some success in catching the arsonists and those making the crude bombs. What legal measures are being taken after they have been caught? More importantly, have the investigations found without reasonable doubt, who the masterminds of these gruesome acts are?