Anwar Shadat Jihan
Bangladesh was born following years of struggle against oppression, injustice and discrimination on the innocent Bengalis by the then West Pakistan government. The life-long sacrifice that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had done for the abject, tortured souls of the Bengali people makes him the undisputed architect of an independent Bangladesh. From six-point movement to the mass uprising of 1969, from the election of 1970 to the victory 16th December of 1971 — Bangabandhu’s selfless devotion, adroit leadership, and his unwavering love for the people of Bangladesh are the reason we can call ourselves “Bangladeshi”, the reason this writer can write independently today about the genocide of 1971 against the unarmed Bangladeshi civilians, the reason Bangladesh has risen to be a country that is considered to be an important stakeholder in the global waves of geopolitics by the superpowers.
The home of this undisputed leader, from where six-point movement was structured, from where the independence of Bangladesh was born, from where the independent Bangladesh was run was vandalized following the uprising on August 5th. Six months later, this home is being bulldozed as this article is being written, and heart of millions of Bangladeshis are being burnt in the flames of the rage, in the flames of the hatred of the crowds doing the destruction. In our society, a new trend is prevalent everywhere in recent days. It is the spreading of hatred, spreading of violence. A society filled with rage, division, and hatred will polarize the country even further.
It all started with the news of Awami league chief Sheikh Hasina’s speech addressing the students of the country. Even though the prominent mainstream media, both online and print, are depicting this action as an action of the general mass, the reality is different. With a goal of diverting the focus from the speech of the Awami league chief, violent mobs provoked by anti-Awami league online activists, created by the extremist elements of the country, stormed into the Dhanmondi 32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. There can be unthinkable anger of the mass population against the former regime, against the former prime minister, against the political party but this violent, uncivil nature that can be observed today can’t be justified.
It is apparent that there is collective hatred from a certain segment of the population against the independence of Bangladesh, and it always was there. However, the law enforcement, military and the interim government—all are remaining silent and failing to protect a house in the center of the capital of the country. Some fraction of the society is trying to justify this pre-civilization, mob action by saying that mob vandalization is due to the fault of the former premier. The former premier very well can have a plethora of faults but this doesn’t give the right to the extremist mob to bulldoze the house of the architect of Bangladesh. Violently destroying anyone’s property is a crime, punishable in the court of law and the authority’s silence is either due to their helplessness to the extremist mobs or due to their active support in these atrocities.
The failure of the government in controlling mob atrocities should raise alarm as today it is the Mujib residence, tomorrow it can be you—the reader’s residence and the day after tomorrow it can me mine. The politics of hate, the politics of vengeance never bring anything meaningful in any society. It can only lead to more hate, more polarization. If today’s violent, unjust action of the mob is not protested, tomorrow may very well bring more darkness. How? In social media post, even well-educated people are calling for the demolition of the grave of Bangabandhu. In the past, following the uprising, the people have seen the burning of the grave of a freedom fighter. What sound mind can torch a grave of any human?
If the society continue to be filled with hatred, unjustified atrocities, the ultimate sufferer will be the generation that we will leave when we depart from the world. The brick of the residence of Bangabandhu may be destroyed, but the mentally traumatized generations we will leave will be the ultimate bearer of the result of today’s action or inaction of the society. The civil right advocate Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” When a mob is formed, logic doesn’t work. So, it is challenging to contain the rage of mob. But, when a mob is actively supported and provoked by society, it further complicates the overall situation.
As this article concludes, with a shattered heart, this writer would like to remind the society that history, true history cannot be bulldozed. No matter how heavy of a force is pushed upon to alter it, history flourishes on its own like Hemingway’s old man, Santiago on the sea. If as a collective human family, the goal is to leave a better place for the future generation, today’s unfortunate violence against the historical residence under the pretense of hatred against the former premier must be condemned. if the interim government, either directly or indirectly has nothing to do with this, they should demonstrate it to people, with their action. And if the anti-discrimination student groups have any good intention about the future, they must stop promoting politics of hatred and start promoting MLK’s light of love.
Anwar Shadat Jihan, (Aerospace Engineer), Wichita, KS, U.S.A