Now that the dust has settled in Dhaka following the peaceful and orderly staging of the BNP’s mass rally we need to find some answers to a few simple questions. A rally that was expected to last a maximum of six hours has cost more than 10 millions Dhaka residents anything between a day and four days (varying on locations) of their normal daily routines, including  office work, shopping, children’s coaching, medical appointments, shopping, leisure and other activities.  The images of anti-riot armoured vehicles, water cannons, and AK-47 wielding special forces patrolling certain city streets resembled a war zone, and not a democratic square. The worry and concerns expressed, and issuance of the advisories by foreign missions in Dhaka to their own nationals, therefore, were not that unwarranted, especially after some ministers expressed annoyance at and issued veiled warnings to foreign diplomats.  The BNP announced its series of rallies in 10 divisional venues on ...