Introduction:
Bangladesh is a peaceful country. There are some things in our country that changes over time. People sometimes find out ways to make hypothesis of the future and the changes that might take place then. Renowned American cultural anthropologist Margaret Meadonce said “Every person is unique; they have different perspective in seeing their lives.” It is our luck which led us in seeing our lives differently. Today we are experiencing the life in perspective of a 45 years old women Fatima. She has seen changes in the world more than we did; dealt with problems that we never thought about.
Personal information:
I am Fatima Mira, a proud Bangali. There had been changes that people like me have seen. I work at “Dulal brother’s garments factory” as a garments manufacturer.
Past years 2013-2040:
This is year February 13, 2040. It has been 22 years since I moved to Dhaka from my village in Jaipur. There have been a lot of changes in Bangladesh ever since.
Bangladesh has had many political conflicts in the past between the Islamic parties and the national parties. A civil war took place, a war between religion and history. The leaders of the Islamic parties were charged of murdering freedom fighters, charges they denied. Similar to 1970’s the students and the youth urged for executing the ruthless murderers. Since then, our country had been in conflict and many strikes had followed from there on. As a result, the lives of people had been deeply affected. Strikes brought along burning vehicles and killing the innocent.
In several months, however, the conflict came to an end. Though the effects of the strikes and fear of war had cursed our education and economy.
A day in my life:
School and law chambers are shut during strikes. A day without work may not mean much to you though it means a lot to me. If I don’t work at the factory, I can’t feed my family. I have three children and two are school going. I have to cook their tiffin, wash their clothes, and pick them up from school everyday. In addition, I have to pay the house bills every month. To top it off I have an unemployed husband and a son who is a drug addict. Do you think you can survive a single day in my life? On several occasions I had to bribe the counselor in order to release my son from jail.
ØAdvantages in 2040:
Education: Since 2013 till 2040, education has definitely advanced after the disaster. Before 75% Bangladeshis were literate and presently the number stands at 90%. The students who were affected in the 2013-2018 civil wars had to struggle. I had to give my “A-level” exams. Due to the strikes, my exams were cancelled as all institutions and schools were shut. For five years this continued; thus I was five years behind and later it was too late to sit for the exams. My parents did not take any chances and arranged for me to be married that year.
Communication and transportation: All the people in Bangladesh use cell phones. The uses of rickshaws have been banned, which led to the decrease of traffic jam. Now there are solar powered cars that can carry twenty people at a time so that there is less use of fuel and non-renewable energy. You need to pay a lot of money to ride them. I wish I could ride them once.
The government: The government of Bangladesh has now turned to a computerised government. The works of governors are now operated by the computer so that there is no politics and corruption. They developed this system after the incident of 2013 strikes.
The currency: Instead of taka we use electrode. Electrode is a card that is kinetic energy to pay electricity bills, drive cars and buy food. The electricity is given off to the super computer to store energy; the energy it gives to the society is the payment of whatever is purchased, making lives more convenient. Addiction: There are cures to drug addiction, but they are expensive, so I can’t cure my son from this curse. I am collecting money to purchase antidotes.
Security:There are computerised security checks everywhere. The criminals can now work the way a usual work garment workers would do in 2013.
Conclusion: Everybody has to live their lives, no matter how hard it is. We can change the future if we work together. The life in 2040 to Fatima could be different to the life we might lead in the future. It depends on luck.
Condensed from Original, Tawfique Hassan
