Public suffering due to heightened street violence resurfaced as BNP led radical organizations took to the streets to create anarchy.
Peaceful environment prevailed in the country until the October 28 mayhem when the unruly BNP-Jamaat cadres attacked police forces, set fire to vehicles, hospitals and public properties while setting fire to buses and private cars killing and injuring many people.
Except for some isolated incidents, the last such series of street violence, literally holding the entire nation hostage, occurred prior to the 2018 parliamentary election when the unruly BNP and its allies resorted to fierce attacks on the police forces and damaging public properties.
Violence on October 28 was witnessed on the streets of the capital when BNP cadres and activists of some terrorist organizations launched targeted attacks on police and other security forces from their 'grand rally'.
They burnt vehicles, ambulance, fire brigade truck, set fire to some buildings and launched organized attacks on the on-looking police in riot-gears. The peaceful streets soon turned violent as the mob who outnumbered the law enforcers, burnt tyres at several places while leaving a trail of devastation smashing windowpanes nearby.
The violence did not end during the half-day, so called 'peaceful grand rally' of BNP. The next day BNP announced a dawn to dusk country-wide general strike during which several public buses were set on fire while the unruly mobs set up barricades at several points in the city to deny traffic movement to enforce hartal.
Such series of recent violent events have raised serious concern among the ordinary people who see no respite to these street mob attacks along with criminal activities of burning innocent people to death.
"This is not politics," said Mollah Mohammad Ibrahim, a resident of Mohammadpur. Now in his late seventies, Ibrahim said, "We have encountered serious street protests during the Pakistan rule. Back then we never burnt vehicles, killed policemen or even resorted to mob attacks on police forces. But sadly the culture of burning innocent people, vehicles, ferociously attacking policemen and damaging public properties is becoming a common habit.’’
Most people, especially those traveling on the streets, fear being either attacked or becoming victim of burning cars or buses. In such situation of continued unrest majorities of the residents prefer to stay indoor for safety during such hartals and blockade programmes.
"I will never risk going out during any rally or procession no matter how peaceful it may be. I have come across many 'peaceful' rallies turning violent all of a sudden," said Shafqat Hossain who works in a corporate house in Banani.
BNP’s so called ‘politics’ is not merely confined to the traditional stage speeches, slogans and marching with banners and festoons where on-looking enthusiastic supporters clap to intensify mood and energize fellow supporters.
BNP activists have a practice of triggering attacks on innocent people and police force and take the issue of their own attacks to major street violence.
"Unfortunately, in any violent event, we have recently witnessed bitter conflicts which are painful to watch," said Ataur Rahman, a retired government servant.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens, reacting to the recent street violence, described the scenes on the streets as agonizingly painful.
"We know about mob supremacy but not the way we are seeing these days. On many occasions hired gangsters ferociously attack law enforcers who try to restore peace. Many of the attackers carry sharps, firearms and even petrol bombs to 'overpower' whoever comes in their way," said Mizanur Rahman, a restaurant owner in city's Moghbazar.
The worst victims are the ordinary citizens - the main voters whose voices hardly matter to the politicians. "Street violence, hartal, blockade or similar mechanisms to overthrow any government never work which they know still they pursue such violence to create a phobia so the ordinary citizens comply such resistance programmes to unseat ruling parties," said Sanzida Khatun, a headmistress of a city public school.
A fellow teacher said, political anarchy means all means of transports remain suspended, shutdown of all businesses, educational institutions remaining suspended, uncertainties in private offices and street vendors selling no products to earn.
They also said that due to such political unrest prices of essential commodities which largely affect common people. Many people cannot attend office, work places or even open businesses in such violent events.
Frustrations rise as the violence continues from one day to another as the street violence intensify. The only way to end such violence is to follow the ethics of politics, many senior citizens expressed.