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The current state of affairs in Bangladesh of shutting down the entire country through strikes is not an acceptable form of protest. This is not civil disobedience rooted in moral authority, it is not a democratic process, and should not be associated with legitimate historical movements and uprisings.

The current “protests” have caused indiscriminate nationwide suffering, inflicted deaths and fear, paralyzed the economy and pushed the agendas of political parties by any means necessary – this is homegrown terrorism.

Those who are calling the strikes from their air-conditioned houses, with well-stocked refrigerators, and servants for their every demand, do not experience what the vast majority experience – until they do, there will be no change in policy.

The impact of the shutdown is vastly different for the poor and middle class versus the wealthy, since the options they have are drastically different. The wealthy can ride out the storm, while the poor have to walk through the storm. The girl working in the garment factory risks her life to walk to work, while the guard at the bank has no choice but to ride on a bus and potentially become a burn victim of petrol-bombs.

The poor do not have the luxury to sit around and have intellectual debates about politics and human suffering over tea while strikes continue, they have to go to work, and make their day-to-day living. Nearly the entire population is affected by strikes; unfortunately, the burden is unequally distributed, and that is why the history of shutdowns keeps repeating, regardless of the party in power.

Even the most resilient economy cannot withstand strikes that shut everything down. From agricultural products rotting in trucks on highways, to garments unable to be shipped overseas, wanton waste and inefficiency is pervasive. Even with all the setbacks Bangladesh’s economy has faced in the last many years, the country has still done remarkably well, and thus received well-deserved accolades.

Yet one should not lose sight, that even with GDP growing 4% to 7% (for the last 20 years), Bangladesh will still require several generations to reach the status of a middle-income nation.

When lack of resources and infrastructure are often cited for meek economic growth, bad policies, wrong strategies and especially self-inflicted wounds are not acceptable. This is especially why the strikes are appalling.

No form of terrorism is tolerable, but when the victims are poor, the burden is even more unbearable. Not only has the recent terrorist activities of throwing bombs in civilian buses maimed innocent people and caused painful deaths, it has permanently damaged the fragile and budding economy of Bangladesh – the full extent of the impact is yet to be felt.

The damage from repeated strikes leads to negative market perception and decrease in economic productivity. The compound effect over many years will further hold back millions in poverty.

No citizen, especially a politician, has the right to call a strike that impinges on the rights and wellbeing of others. If an organization wants to march, picket or protest, they have the right to do so, but this has to happen in an orderly fashion, where it does not infringe on other’s rights. When a group can shut down a country at will, with impunity, they are violating democratic rights of other citizens.

Freedom can never be absolute. When one has limitless freedom, often it comes at the marginalization of others. Bangladesh in its entire history has never been able to strike the right balance, and therefore Bangladeshi people have had to suffer.

Regardless of the political party in power, one issue that needs to be addressed before all else is, those who incite, inflict or associate with terrorism, must bear the full punishment of the law. The public must decide how to hold those who commit violence accountable. It should be noted, since both parties are guilty of violating the rights of Bangladeshi citizens, they have an incentive not to overplay their hand.

Today in the highly interconnected global economy, market participants have many options as to how they allocate their resources. Just because the garment industry has done well in Bangladesh, this does not mean that it will continue to be successful in the future. Foreign firms, who may have considered Bangladesh for investment, may now recalibrate their decision factors and look elsewhere, due to the political chaos.

Furthermore, for Bangladesh to rise a notch higher on the economic ladder, the country has to go beyond garments, and attract more hi-tech and sophisticated industries. Will CEOs of innovative companies such as Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung set up operations in Bangladesh, and put in peril the lives of their employees? Will they risk establishing large offices and factories that may be burnt down? The answer is no.

National stability and minimizing volatility is key to attracting foreign firms and investments. Political chaos, acts of terrorism and uncertainty about the future undermine the potential of Bangladeshi people. Political parties need to understand that as Bangladesh grows, they too will personally benefit.

A larger pie benefits everyone, but when personal vengeance outweighs rational decisions, the future will remain uncertain. Ultimately, those who bear the highest price from the strikes and shutdowns are those who can least afford it.

Ikhtiar Kazi is a capital markets professional, human rights activist, and writer, residing in New York City. He was educated at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Published in the Dhaka Tribune on December 5, 2013 newspaper with the title “Who pays the price?” http://www.dhakatribune.com/op-ed/2013/dec/04/who-pays-price

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