Recent incidents have, gravity and innumerable repercussions notwithstanding, revealed the good and bad sides of the society we live in. On the one hand, we have the “Ranas” running unscrupulous business activities under political patronage; and, on the other hand, the “Kaikobads” symbolising mankind’s generosity.
It is difficult to understand the epistemology of recent incidents, which started with the non-orderly war crimes trials and moved to the “man-made disasters,” and the sudden rise of Hefazat-e-Islam. To say the least, the latter has spurred significant confusion by tarnishing its long reputation as a progressive entity with roots in the Darul Uloom Deoband, founded more than a century ago in India.
Today, Maulana Ahmed Shafi’s role in all of this is under serious scrutiny, as student of this prestigious school. His planned arrival and unexpected departure from Dhaka opened up a wide range of questions about Hefazat’s affiliation with the opposition party and also the Jamaat-e-Islam, its protracted antagonist.
One underlying issue of national importance revealed through the mobilisation of Hefazat is the state of the madrasa education system in Bangladesh. Despite the progress that has been made by public and private entities in promoting a modern education system across Bangladesh, the exclusion of madrasa students from mainstream activities could marginalise these children who may be used to help attain partisan objectives that are not their own.
Surely, children have little idea about factional feuds that are present in our country today, but they still have a direct influence on these proceedings. As they grow older, these children will essentially become goods and used as “footmen” or mere bystanders who will be rented out to beef up visual support during public meetings.
If the working class in our country cannot be socially empowered, then the social transformation that is now happening to their children will negatively affect the country’s development process in the very near future. We should remember on December 31, 2010, the government declared it would form a 19-member National Child Welfare Board to monitor children’s rights, risky child labour, and ensure education and health services.
Under the proposed act, separate Shishu Kalyan Boards (SKBs) were envisioned, that were to be formed at district and upazila levels, and would subsequently assist the apex board.
Time is ripe to establish SKBs across Bangladesh’s rural areas in order to ensure that children rights are not only protected, but also, that they are not marginalised. The SKBs will be critical in constructing a path, which will either make a Rana or a Kaikobad out of them.
In addition, the premier’s denial of Rana’s affiliation with the AL raised many eyebrows, and many questioned the kind of leadership we could expect in the future. Thus, whether the Savar victims and the children left by their teachers in Motihjeel will be adequately rehabilitated, will depend not only to what extent the premier will be able to make a real positive impact, but more critically, on those entrusted with the responsibility to diligently and honestly discharge their functions.
We have all the laws required to turn Bangladesh into a prosperous society, but aside from posh events (dialogue, seminars and workshops in luxurious hotels), little is being done to effectively implement this legislation.
Lawmakers and the general public should advocate a national holiday on May 4 to remember the noble Kaikobad’s sacrifice and remind future generations of Bangladesh of brave and bold Bangladeshis. In this way, we could encourage the society to breed and reward “Kaikobads” and prevent the rise of “Ranas.”
Hasanuzzaman is a researcher and can be reached at zaman.h1984@gmail.com