It would be inaccurate to say that I was not angered or aggravated by the insolence of self-proclaimed protectors of my religion.
However, the end of the Dhaka siege reminded me how citizens of the country are susceptible to exploitation by those with loudspeakers or microphones. I came upon this realisation when I saw thousands of people left behind at the rally.
The Islamist protesters, made so by years of regular influence was left open to police “attacks.” This influence, brought about through years of religious education is the reason they believe that the “free-mixing” of men and women is an evil that must be done away with, amongst other ultra-conservative viewpoints.
Law enforcers handled things reasonably well, in my opinon, surprising for a country that has a history of violence on the part of law enforcement. Their actions even seemed charitable, as they led the crowd of bewildered Hefazat activists through the streets and toward the safe refuge of their homes.
On the other hand, Alama Shafi left the site immediately after the rally. At the end of the day, thousands were still on the streets waiting for further instructions from the man they looked up to, someone who had instructed them to stay there until demands, mostly comprising of words that they were brainwashed to feel right, were met. These were people who were willing to die on those streets for these demands put forth by their leadership.
What changed in the hours after the rally as compared to before, as the police led most of them off like a herd of cattle out of the capital? One thing that was missing was the leadership bloc. A whole crowd of leaders, who had incited them to hold their ground, regardless of the situation, and who had promised them protection, were missing. The 313-member “sacrifice” squads of Islamists, recruited to act as a bar to police action, were nowhere to be seen, nor were any of the top leaders.
It was just another instance of people’s trust betrayed by those who claim to be their leaders and to represent them. Thousands were there fighting for what they were made to believe was right. Thousands were willing to die. But when they found out that there were no leaders to lead them into the so-called Jihad against the attack on Islam, they realised they were just another piece on the chess board, just another pawn in the fight of knights, kings and queens.
So, in my humble opinion, their submission to law enforcers, slowly making their way from Shapla Chattar with their hands raised, was not only based on fear. It was also based on the realisation that they were used, utilised to serve a political purpose.
Whose purpose were they serving? Reports have cited government and opposition sources claiming that they were supported and aided by the opposition and that most of the violence was carried out by men of Jamaat-e-Islami and its associate wings.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia urged that the Islamists be given full support. One of her advisers had said that the Hefazat men were “visitors” and urged for them to be entertained in that mann er. The ruling party is doing all that it can to gain political points by taking pot-shots at the opposition.
So, in the overall scenario, a group of believers are being used as pawns in a political game. The same as those in Shahbagh or anywhere else in the country. We see the ruling and opposition parties trying to secure a five-year hold on the people. The people they will subsequently play to ensure another five years.
Can we blame them? No. They have the guts to do that only because we let them. We let them use us - we do not question them, we believe what they say, and we do not hold them accountable.
It is high time that the people stop doing that, it is high time that the people reclaim their nation. The country runs on our toil, sweat and lives. We should be the ones deciding what is right.
Rifaat Newaz is a Journalist.