Hartal, opposition politics, and we

. PHOTO: AFP

Consider this: on May 18, 2005, the AL called a hartal, sending many ordinary working people out of livelihood for the day. On that day AL's General Secretary Mr. Abdul Jalil attended the annual general meeting of his business enterprise Mercantile Bank, in the secured environment of Hotel Sheraton. The hartal picketers grabbed CNG driver Amir, who came out with his three-wheeler because he had no food at home. They doused him with gasoline, and then set him alight. He fought for his life for a few days, because he knew with him would die the hopes of his family to which he was the only earning member. He lost the battle.

This is struggle for people Awami League style. The leaders go on with their work on hartal day piling up on their millions, while Amirs are roasted alive for the crime of trying to earn a little money to feed their kids for the day. We, ordinary citizens, are helpless.