I see picketers on the streets, and petrol-bombers too, burning alive the souls, of me and you, and I think to myself … what a wonderful world!
Parodies aside, where are we headed right now? Is the ultimate solution for sane people in this country to flee abroad to live as third-grade citizens with odd jobs for mere survival? I guess so; because, remember those Bengalis they used to make once, who were ready to stand up against evil power and give their lives away fighting, yet never giving up on justice and peace for all?
Yeah, they don’t make those anymore I guess. Because everyone seems fine waking up every morning with news about how the nice next-door neighbour got caught inside a bus into which a petrol bomb was thrown and got cremated alive within minutes. What do we do when we hear about that aged lady who came from Barisal for treatment and got treated for life with fire all over her body? We simply do that “tsk tsk” thing and then sip our tea and run off to work.
On the one hand, we have tremendous construction work going on, not just with the flyovers, but the whole nation, in all sectors. On the other hand, arsonists (whose loyalties to their respective parties are very questionable) are burning it all down.
Some might be thinking that it’s actually helping us reduce the population, since it is so large. Well guess what? You might be next! And then you won’t be around to see how much pain it causes your family members to lose you.
And not just the burning and destroying of things, but this whole ridiculous situation where strikes have become a daily thing is actually hurting the whole education system of this country. Kids can’t go to school or sit for their exams, and given the fact that they have so much time to study and no idea when the next exam will be held and how, many of them have probably given up studying right now.
We surely wanted a country where kids will always experience laughter and fun, right? They will grow up knowing that a party and their minions mastering in blockades, strikes, and petrol bombs destroyed their future, and their predecessors had done nothing about it.
And speaking of going to work, the lives of daily labourers and garment workers and such, who have only two ways of travelling, either by using public transport or on foot, are most at risk.
Given the current situation where the policemen have been ordered to shoot arsonists on sight, imagine, for instance, a situation on the streets where a bunch of workers are caught up in a crossfire and many of them lose their lives. What happens to their little kids at home? Who will take care of their ill elderlies, and who will ensure that more beggars will not be created out of them?
The government is already doing so well in tackling these arsonists with both hands full, that it would be unjust to ask them to take care of regular people (although they have provided for some, as we all know).
Instead of putting all the pressure on them, we should buckle up, get some guns and knives (and if needed, some cooking utensils too -- who cares?) to answer that call where we, the mango public, are asked to stand against corruption and help catch miscreants. That way, we can all be a bit like Batman, minus the billion dollars, the immense training in martial arts, the detective skills, the cool gadgets, the cool bat suit, and the super cool Batpod. Sounds cool, huh?
So, we know what is wrong, and we also know that it will keep being wrong for an uncertain period. Clearly, someone does not want the BNP to exist anymore, and that might as well be the party itself. Otherwise, why would they continue to burn the nation down when their fight is not really against the nation or the citizens? Why would they lack the brains to understand that working against the nation is exponentially decreasing their popularity?
Of course, some might argue that they are being framed and it is someone else doing the devil’s deed. But then, why isn’t anyone from the party trying to stop these acts of terror? By murdering countless numbers of people, are they not actually reducing their votes and, thereafter, any seats they might avail in the parliament in the future?
Tolerance nowadays is a rare gift to possess, and it seems like we Bangladeshis have too much of it as far as caring for the country is concerned. Other cases, for instance watching mind-blowing (yes, literally) mega serials on Star Jalsha, are things to be hyper about, but 60 people being burnt to death in one day amounts to nothing. And why not? The Gonojagoron Moncho in Shahbagh is there to take care of the nation, right? Of course they are, it is because of them that blogger Avijit Roy is still alive, safe and sound with his family, right?
In my opinion, we need to form a proper sense of righteousness in our minds and think about our future here. Today, some people like me are ranting about this, many others are talking about it at their offices, tea-stalls, restaurants -- but talk is not enough right now. Talking is not going to save us from petrol bombs, neither will gathering at one spot to protest and show that we care. That actually gives potential murderers a chance to identify which one of us is the next target.
We really have to devise sane ways to save our country along with the people and the economy, and we have to get rid of foreign political parties interfering in our politics in the name of religion. And we have to come forward and request the appropriate authorities to involve the general public in finding solutions to this matter to avoid further dire consequences for anyone at all.
Although this is the politicians’ job, things have become too personal for regular people. So maybe the politicians can indulge in some educated discussions with ordinary citizens and end this war immediately, before the remnants are nothing but ashes.
