People from all walks of life have taken to the streets to lend their support for the student protests, which聽in the beginning of July sought reforms in civil service job reservations but have now been on the streets demanding the resignation of the government. The protests which begun with a single demand came up with fresh demands as the government employed various tactics, including deception and repression, in efforts to contain the protesters. More than two hundred students have, meanwhile, died in attacks by the ruling Awami League fronts and firing by various law enforcement units, primarily the police all over in July since the 16th that month. Several thousand people became wounded. As August began with the emerging demands of the protesters having remained unmet, groups of university and college teachers and professionals joined in. Political parties in the opposition have also thrown their weight behind the young leaders who have come out from the protests that have rolled for more than a month. The protesters have now began an all-out non-cooperation with the government to press home their demand. The resignation of the government, in such a situation, appears to be a way out from the situation the country has plunged in.
The Awami League, which presides over the government, on August 4 employed bullies of its fronts, the Chhatra League and the Juba League, to suppress the student protests all over the country in a violent manner. The employment of the bullies of the Awami League fronts, most holding sticks, rods and sharp weapons and many holding firearms, attacked the protests that left a large number of people dead. The situation also results in the loss of and damage to property. All this suggests that the Awami League has stepped on a confrontational course against not only the protesting students but also people of all walks of life. Whilst the Awami League is doing all this, ranking leaders of the government, including some ministers, and of the Awami League keep telling lies, one after another, to compound the situation. The government should have realised that this is merely not something of the ruling political party being pitched against its political contenders in opposition. Thousands of non-partisan students and ordinary people have lent their support for the protests. In such a violent state, if the protests intensified and more people took to the streets lending their support for the protesting students, this would reach a point of no return any time. This would be unwise on part of the government, which should realise that what it is doing is not doing it right. The government should have avoided the path of confrontation much earlier and handled the issues of the protesters with sincerity and in earnestness.
The government should, in such a precariously poised situation, stop applying force to quell the protests and, rather, take the pulse of the people, smell the air that hangs heavy and thick with the death of so many people and hear their voice for an urgent course correction.