Dhaka, Oct. 19 -- The forced resignation of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain has delivered another jolt to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government, barely eight months into its term. This is establishing a pattern in Tarique's handling of errant party leaders whose questionable activities attract widespread criticism on social media.

Another notable example is Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti, a member of parliament who was pressured to resign after being widely implicated in the Sept 25 attack on the Radda health clinic in Mirpur.

By forcing Ishraque to resign over his recent antics in his Dhaka constituency, Tarique may hope the controversy will now fade, as the Mirpur attack has slipped from the front pages. But if ...