A uneasy calm has gripped the country-Govt under pressure over execution of Salauddin Mojaheed

Shafiq rahman:   A uneasy calm has gripped the country ahead of executing two war crimes convicts, though the government has overcome political pressure. The law enforcers have taken all necessary preparation, apprehending untoward incidents anytime.The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has cancelled her visit to Malta and France in the wake of the Paris attack as well as the situation that has emerged in the country.

The law enforcers fear attacks on some key installations and accordingly have taken precautionary measures in all the airports in the country. Security has also been beefed up in the jails across the country and Bangladesh Secretariat. The law enforcers have increased the number of check posts at key points.

Political analysts said repeated sensational incidents have offset instability both inside and outside the government and, at the same time, triggered fear that even worse incidents may occur.
The heinous incidents that occurred in the last two months have proved that it is not being possible to thwart the miscreants.

Health minister Mohammad Nasim, also the coordinator of ruling Awami League led “14-party” alliance, told Jatirkhantha that this is not that the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are only now trying to create instability in the country. “Incidents of sabotage have been taking place under their aegis since 2009 and that is why the government is alert.”

The minister alleged an effort is underway to create panic among the people. “But the government is not sitting idle. The miscreants are being arrested and tried.” Several senior ministers told the  Jatirkhantha that the government will soon have the situation under control shortly just as it brought the “three months of arson and terrorism” under control.

They said the situation may remain heated until 5 January next year, the second anniversary of the controversial 5 January election through which the present government assumed the power.They said the opposition may try to create trouble for the government on occasion of the second anniversary of the election.

An attempt was taken to shot and kill Italian national Dr Piero Picham, despite of countrywide security measures in face of attacks on foreigners. Prior to that, a member of the military police was also stabbed at Kochukhet near an entrance of Dhaka Cantonment, which is also perceived as special warning.

Ruling party leaders have been constantly alleging that sudden deterioration of law and order was pre-planned to create chaos before trial and execution of Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. None, however, can predict how much worse the situation might get.

Some policy makers of the government suspected that local groups or saboteurs might have been linked with an international group to create the present anarchic situation. Both groups aim to thwart war crime trials and executions and also aim at putting the government in trouble. The policy makers believe that such risks may continue to erupt till next February.

Key policy makers of the government and different agencies have blamed Jamaat and its student wing Shibir for the recent sabotages. They also suspected that BNP supports these incidents. The agencies, however, are yet to trace any specific individuals and groups who might be responsible for recent incidents.

BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, meanwhile, have constantly denied the accusation. BNP standing committee chairperson Nazrul Islam Khan told the government has been manipulating all the incidents. By blaming BNP and Jamaat irrationally, the real perpetrators are condoned always.