The holy month of Ramadan is almost over. And with it, we hope, the worst of Dhaka traffic shall be behind us as well.
For if Ramadan is the month of restraint, of exercising patience, of testing a person’s resilience, then look no further than the citizens of Dhaka, who brave the streets for hours on end this holy month.
Not only are most Dhaka folks refraining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk but, even more miraculously, are expected to navigate (or sit still, depending on how you look at it) the roads and streets this month, while resisting the urge to turn into a drunk sailor and curse anything and everything that exists in this city we call home.
Truly, I can only hope the Almighty looks down at his hapless devotees, biting their tongue, holding back their fists, and palms, all in the name of being a better version of themselves.
That said, Ramadan isn’t the same for everyone, that much is and has been clear. The average RMG worker, should she be fasting, experiences a very different Ramadan to the RMG tycoon. Even the middle-class have vastly different fasting experiences to those who struggle to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis.
As fasting is different for those during Ramadan depending on socio-economic status, it is equally true that traffic in Ramadan isn’t the same for everyone as well. Social hierarchies always apply.
What I find most amusing, however, is that those of us in relative comfort appear to be the ones complaining the most. Yes, it is annoying and agonizing being stuck in traffic for hours on end, but it sure is nice to be stuck in traffic in an air-conditioned car, being driven around while you stare at those people crammed on public buses and lagunas, surely?
Perhaps this points to a larger issue at hand. Life in Dhaka is indeed unbearable, and we continue to be ranked as among the most unlivable cities in the world. Indeed, for those of us who have been privileged enough to experience other cities, the contrast is truly shocking.
Yet, once again, it is a fact that life in Dhaka is very different for a certain class of people. And while it is a dangerous activity to try and measure the severity of issues, I think it can be safely said that the possibility of going hungry, of not having a roof over one’s head, far outweighs the woes of being stuck in traffic in an air-conditioned car.
So where am I going with this? Eid is almost upon us. As I’d mentioned in a previous column, religion is an extremely personal journey and Ramadan offers many a chance at a reset and at self reflection. While I believe the authorities within our country have a fair amount of self reflection to do themselves, specifically on how they shall focus on nation-building to create equality and equity within our society, as individuals, we too have a part to play.
As we count down the days to Eid, may we reflect upon the lessons we have (hopefully) learned over the course of Ramadan, internalize them permanently, and above all, look around us with more compassion and understanding.
If you’re reading this column, chances are, your life’s much better than most Bangladeshis already. Sometimes, it’s good to remember our blessings, despite our usual reaction to always feel cursed in this city and country of ours.
AHM Mustafizur Rahman is Joint Editor, Editorial and Op-Ed, Dhaka Tribune.
