Why These Bomb Blasts ?

And so, as usual, the Awami League has launched a tirade against the ruling BNP and the BNP has launched a tirade against the Awami League for the recent simultaneous bomb blasts in 63 out of 64 districts.

What sort of politics are they pursuing in the name of democracy? Politics for power's sake and democracy for fooling the people?

We are of the opinion that neither the Awami League nor the BNP is involved in the 17 August 2005 bomb blasts.

We strongly believe that taking advantage of and getting encouraged by the bitter differences and enmity between the two major political parties, a handful of miscreants, terrorists and anti-state elements are engaged in committing sinister crimes one after another.

Our leaders have failed us miserably. August 17 will be remembered always as a black day as on that day the Islamic fundamentalists took over the whole of Bangladesh for 30 minutes without an iota of resistance from the security forces. More than 450 bomb attacks in 63 districts out of 64 are a record of sorts.

Mushtaque Ahmad Uttara, Dhaka

It was unprecedented --a series of bombs detonated simultaneously within 30 minutes rocking the whole country and making people panicky and bewildered. It is for the first time Bangladesh has observed such bomb attacks.

We have to remain alert and foil the evil designs of the enemies of the country.

Md Zonaed Emran University of Dhaka

There were unprecedented bomb explosions at a time across the country. It was a terrible threat to our democracy as well as freedom of the people. Earlier at the beginning of the year some bombs were exploded to foil the Saarc summit. While all kinds of preparations are now being taken to hold it, similar atrocities have been repeated. It indicates that a vested group having foreign support wants to tarnish the image of the country, introducing us as a terrorist-infested state to the outside world.

Md. Kabir Hossain Adarshapara, Shabujbag

It threw me into an abyss of despair when I first heard about the series of bomb attacks. People all over the country were panicky but they felt a little relieved that the casualties were not that high in number.

People believe that the countrywide bomb blasts were a pre-planned operation aimed at creating anarchy in the country. Whoever might have been behind the bomb blasts, they are out to ruin the country.

Md. Shalidul Islam Khilgaon Taltola, Dhaka

The bomb explosions in all the district headquarters except Munshiganj on August 17, 2005 appalled us. We are feeling very uneasy and frightened sensing that a big conspiracy is being hatched against our country.

Everyone should remain calm and try to think about the incident.

The government and the opposition parties must not blame each other, but jointly face the enemies who are trying to destroy Bangladesh.

It is clear that a powerful third party is involved, who are trying to stamp Bangladesh as an extremist country.

Nur Jahan Chittagong

Before the bomb blasts of August 17, the government always claimed that they did not know anything about terrorist activities. They even put the blame of the countrywide bomb blasts on the main opposition party, the Awami League. From this act of blaming without probing deep into the matter, it necessarily follows that the politicians of our country do not exercise politics so much for the greater interest of the nation as for their own benefits. However, to figure out the culprits behind the August 17 serial blasts, the smart (?) detective branches have arrested at least 150 militants across the country so far.

The government should not play a political game at this critical time. It has to take decisive action against those responsible for terrorist activities.

Ramprashad Banik Jahangirnagar University