Course: Eng 102

Term Paper on Impacts of Political Strike in our Social life

Instructed BySaifa Haque

Adjunct Faculty, English DepartmentEast West University

Presented ByMd. Alauddin ID: 2014-2-10-142Faria Jaman Mishita ID: 2014-2-10-212Jannatul Afrin Annesha ID: 2014-2-10-213

Impacts Of

Political Strike in our Social life(Based on Education, Transportation, Public relation & Safety)

Abstract

Political strike is a common affair of our daily life. Unfortunately it has many negative effects in our social

life. So, this term paper is about “The Impacts of Strike on our Social Life”. This term paper has been

completed using Questionnaire on 50 University students from March 29 to March 30 in East West

University. This term paper represents all the impacts of strike in our social life and opinion of students.

Introduction

Political Strike is not a new subject to Bangladesh. It has become pervasive in our country. It has

become a part of our life. Strike means action or closing down of road-traffic, shops and warehouses,

workplaces, offices, courts of law etc. with a subject of realizing a demand. Through strike, the opposition

political parties insist on a powerful tool of pressure to make their demands. Frequent strike disrupts the

normal life. Moreover, the poor suffers more during the strike as they lose their income. It is generally

believed that frequent strike not only disrupts normal life, they also have a negative effect on the poor

income earners of the city like the Rickshaw-pullers, day laborers, small shopkeepers, slum dwellers etc.

There have been frequent press reports and a few surveys on the people’s perceptions about strike but no

systematic attempt has yet been taken to quantify income loss of the poor city dwellers during strike. The

phenomenon of strike is continuous with persistent regularity in present day at Bangladesh. On the other

hand a stable political situation is strong prerequisite for achieving the targeted economic growth and

creating employment opportunity. Strike is used for political approach. Strike was not everyday matter in

those days but at present time Bangladesh‘s political system is feeble.

Problems

Political strikes or turmoil affects every sector of a country. Our Economy faced serious situation due

to Strike. Not only that, our life is threatened by strike. It destroyed the flow of peace.

A wage earner cannot find any work to earn his livelihood, a rickshaw puller cannot get out with his

rickshaw for income, and a vendor owner cannot continue his business. Likewise, Exporters have failed to

deliver the shipment to the buyers; wholesaler cannot deliver his goods to reseller. Moreover, Students &

Examiners facing difficulties to attend their classes and exams, Transport companies are counting losses day

after day, People are afraid of congesting their work places, Economy is going downward, Tourism industry

is falling apart.

Education

Nowadays, students are unable to go their regular class due to this strike. They cannot even attend

their exams. Besides their make-up classes cannot be scheduled on time. In a manner of speaking, students

are the biggest part of victim in Strike on our country. In a survey, almost 98% people agreed that students

of school, college & universities are suffered greatly in our education system only for strike. Not only is

that, exams and classes were postponed for strike. So students lost their confidence to attending their classes

and exams. The possible solution of this problem is to reschedule the exam date and make alternative of

make-up classes for the students. In our survey report, 80% students appreciated make up classes for strike,

16% students demand the same regular classes and rest 4% students wanted them both.

80%

16%4%

Classes In StrikeMake-up Regular Both

Public safety

On political strike, the common and innocent people are mostly became the victim. Rioters and

picketers throw petrol bombs to make collision with police and that petrol bomb will be the cause of burning

death of common and innocent people. In a statement, last 3 months the number of dead people in Dhaka

medical college Hospital burn unit has exceeded 90. Our government cannot ensure the safety of people.

That’s why people cannot congest their workplaces safely. In survey, 98% people say that people are not

safe in streets of Dhaka.

Transportation

In last few months, transportation system became bad beyond imagine. For strike, people could not

go outside of Dhaka in case of family purpose. Apparently, the transport companies faced a big amount of

losses that compelled them to shut down their business. Apart from that, a rickshaw driver is not safe from

strike violence. While a rickshaw approaching an intersection or traffic signal, two men came from nowhere

and stopped the vehicle and doused it with gasoline and set it in fire. Not only that, while there was a signal

on busy roads, rioters attempted to throw a bottle of gasoline through the window to the congested bus.

Those who managed to get out from the bus, they became lucky and those who could not, they have to be

burned down with bus until someone’s arrival and help them. Every day, innocent people died and valuable

transports are damaged. So this is happening today in our country. For that reason, people of short and long

distance faced unlimited sufferings on their congested destinations. In survey, 82% people of agreed that

long distance is the reason of suffering in strike, 6% appreciated that short distance also can be the cause of

disturbance and 12% people agreed that both short and long distance is the reason of suffering on the roads

in strike.

82%

6% 12%

Sufferers in TransportationLong Distance Short Distance Both

Public relation

Due to this political strike, there is a triangle collision exists among Government, Opposition party

and people of our country. Some says that, these strikes had been called out for fulfilling demands of

opposition party leader. Some says, strike is an action of protesting against the dictatorship of government.

Eventually, people hardly believed that the government can make this situation under control. They cannot

even trust any political parties for them (Awami league & BNP). In survey, 40% people accused

Government, 30% people accused the opposition and the rest 30% public accused them both.

40%

30%

30%

Responsible for StrikeGovernment Opposition Both Parties

Suggestion/ Recommendation

In brief, it is cleared that strike is a violence that we do not expect. So we must have to find out a

solution or alternatives for this violence. Alternatives like:

The opposition party can go to parliament where they can point out government mistakes.

They can arrange for a dialogue.

Stop this Political strike for the welfare of our country.

Wait till the general election.

Some of students said Our Life is endangered; Government should take necessary steps to stop this

inhuman act. Some said Strike should be banned, it is useless. It is harmful for us because innocent people

are victim of strike. Other says both parties should be kicked out from this country and wants an army based

government.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear to all that political strike is extremely destructive and harmful to all. We all

talk about looking for alternatives, but very few of us (civil society, print media, broadcast media business

and trade organizations, different associations and etc.) do take a united stand against strike.

Reference

Domínguez. G (2015 Jan, 22) Unrest 'taking its toll' on Bangladeshi economy

Retrieved from http://www.dw.de/unrest-taking-its-toll-on-bangladeshi-economy.html

Hossain, I (2013, April 22) Strike and some thoughts. The Daily Sun

Retrieved from http://www.daily-sun.com/details_yes_07-04-2013_Strike-and-some-thoughts_461_2_281_2.html

Rahman, M (2015, March 15) Bloody blockade cripples Bangladesh economy. Al Jazeera.

Retrieved from http://cpd.org.bd/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bloody-blockade-cripples-Bangladesh-economy-Al-Jazeera-English.pdf

Roy. M , Borsha .F .H (2013 August) International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research (Vol-2)

Retrieved from http:// www.slideshare.com/Hartal-A-Violent-Challenge-To-The-Socio-economic- Development-Of-Bangladesh.pdf

Literature review

Ahmed, T Minister of Trade and commerce (2015,Feb 28) Where goes the Economy.

The Daily Observer p: 16

Hasina, S the Prime Minister (2015 Feb 03) Khaleda wants Power. The Daily Star

p: 01,16

Kader, O. Minister of Bridge & communication (2015 March 20) Passengers are not safe on roads.

The Independent p: 04

Kamal, A. K. Sub-home minister (2015 Feb 22) Publics want peace. Daily Prothom Alo

p: 16

Nahid, N.I. Minister of Education (2015 Feb 04) Students want exam environment.

Daily Kaler Kontho p: 16

Survey on

Impacts of Political Strike on social life

Occupation Gender Male Female

1. Whose are responsible for this Strike?Government Opposition party

2. Due to Strike, Public has already lost their trust on whom?Government Opposition party

3. What Kind of impression has grown in Public’s mind?Positive Negative

4. Who suffers greatly in education?Students Examiner

5. How college& Universities did take their classes in strike?Regular classes Make-up classes

6. Are these make-up classes good enough for students?Yeah Nah

7. Are people safe on roads in strike?Yes No

8. How much affect the strike has our standard of living?Greatly Hardly

9. Are we satisfied with our lifestyle in strike?Yes No

10.Which categories of people suffered much in transportation system/Long distance Short distance

11.Which kind of Tourists facing difficulties on Tour in strike?Foreign Domestic

12.If Strike continues, what will be the consequences of our Tourism Industry?Thriving Declining

13.What is the present condition of our economy?Forwarding Back warding

14.What kind of impression growing on our neighborhood countries?Positive Negative

15.Do we really expect This Political Strike in future?Yes No

16. Comment