The manner in which the two opposing political forces have divided the nation cannot bode well for days to come. Even the sanctity of Shaheed Minar, the symbol of the language movement and spirit of freedom, has not been spared.
Certain political factions degraded themselves shamelessly to prevent the body of Prof. Piash Karim being taken to the Shaheed Minar. They have declared him to an "anti-independence" element and are spewing hatred towards him online and on the ground. This tsunami of hatred is now lashing out at several respected journalists and intellectuals of the country. An organisation sprouting up in Shahbagh has placed negative cross marks on the pictures of these persons' faces, declaring that their bodies won't be allowed at Shaheed Minar after their deaths.
By not giving its "approval" for Piash Karim's body to be taken to Shaheed Minar, the Dhaka University authorities have set a bad precedent. These combined efforts to politicise Shaheed Minar are extremely reprehensible. No one has the tight to dishonour the Shaheed Minar in this manner, the memorial awash in the tears of love and the blood of struggle.
Shaheed Minar is open to all. In any civilised society, such sensitive matters are settled through social consensus. It is best for democracy not to embroil the liberation war and the Shaheed Minar in areas where there is no national consensus.
Accusing any anti-government element of being "anti-independence" and subjecting any differing voice to insults and humiliation, is sheer autocracy. Instead of coming down hard on such behaviour, the government is instigating it. Even the ministers are speaking in threatening and menacing tones. Using the Shaheed Minar as a political tool is a dishonour to the liberation war, the language movement and the martyrs of the language movement.