Don't do this...

Awami League leaders Nasim and Mirza Azam are being beaten up by police. (Photo: The Daily Star)

Everyone has a right to protest as long as he is not involved in any destructive activity. This is a grave mistake for the government to club down any peaceful procession. I don't know how peaceful Awami League's procession was as I was not on the streets. But seeing them beaten up mercilessly by police, in television and newspapers, creates sympathy among the people - which AL doesn't deserve. This is not a good strategy. Government must not feel insecure. Let their anger be drained. Let them feel they are the king of the streets. Let them get rid of their tensions. Let protesters demonstrate their anger. When you let them show their anger they will obviously involve in destructive activities - but let them be involved only in minor destructive activities, not major, like, use of bombs, fire, etc. Shoot those pictures. Capture those moments. And show them. Always refer to those examples in your speeches and presentations. Cite the date and place of the incident. Name the activists if you can. This will dramatically reduce their support and depict them as intolerant, anti-social, anti-people, anti-peace organisation. Let them go astray but don't create sympathisers.