Hearing the ruling party’s general secretary say that the BNP's October 28 rally in the capital would face a similar reaction as did the one on December 10, we can now gauge what the intention of the government is. Perhaps, many of us have already started adjusting our diaries, out of fear of violence or to avoid harassment in the name of heightened security. The possibility of another unannounced shutdown ( better to be called a hartal enforced by the supporters of the ruling party) may also encourage them to leave Dhaka simply to avoid any additional sufferings.  The warning given to the opposition BNP by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for its expressed intent is undoubtedly worrying and deplorable. On the other hand, it is also an admission that the government did crack down on the opposition on December 7, 2022, for which they had so far put the blame on the BNP’s alleged subversive activities.  Many questions still remain unanswered as to why the gov...