My country revisited

I strongly support the friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and India. But I do not support that under the disguise of this support the expansion of newly developed RSS-influenced communal capitalism of India in Bangladesh

I was in my country for 10 days from 11th to 21st December. It is the country where I was born and grew up. Though I live in a foreign land faraway I have regular connection with my motherland. I know its past and I am regularly updated about its present state. This country has suffered in the past from poverty and hunger. Natural disasters are a yearly occurrence here. Shortage of food and essentials have been prevalent in the recent past also. But the country has changed a lot. The rural fabric of society has changed. Dhaka is no more a big village-like city. It is now a mega city with a cosmopolitan character. A new middle class has grown and the globalization has left a big mark on the life of our society. I went to a wedding party in Dhaka and I thought I was in Mumbai. The songs though in Bangla echoed the Hindi songs of Mumbai in their rhythm and sounds. The dances also followed the same pattern. The dresses of the bride and groom were no different from Mumbai. This has shocked me because it is not development but social decline.

God bless Sheikh Hasina. She fought bravely against poverty and hunger and removed them from my country. Now beggars are not a big crowd in the airport or in the street. Women are free to come out in the street and the class structure has developed. The sign of urbanization is everywhere but the society lacks moral values. Greediness and hunger for money has swept the whole society. This is a dangerous sign for a developing nation but there is no cure for it and nobody seems to care about it. When I left my country more than 40 years ago the film industry was in its infancy. Though we had film directors like Zahir Raihan, Alamgir Kabir, Subhash Dutta and actor, actresses like Razzak, Hasan Imam, Sumita, Suchanda, Babita, Kabari, Shabana etc. our films had no profitable market like Kolkata.

During my recent illness when I was in my hospital bed for two months I used my mobile phone and started to watch Dhaka films along with Kolkata films. I was surprised to see that our film industry has developed so much that it could compete with the films of the neighbouring countries. As an outstanding film maker we can name Humayun Ahmed, Mostafa Sarwar Farooki and others. We can compare the acting skills of Ferdous, Riaz, Afsana Mimi, Purnima, Tisha, Mehjabin, Prova etc. with those of Kolkata or Mumbai. It is our film industry that is under the influence of Mumbai Films. Few directors like Humayun Ahmed and Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu have miraculously escaped the unholy influence of Mumbai culture. Especially, I noticed the acting talents of Bipasha, Purnima and Tisha which could flourish like Sophia Lauren and Meryl Streep if they could have proper guidance of good directors and not utilized by profit loving film makers of Bangladesh.

The development of agriculture in the village and the urbanisation of the capital with all other cities is noticeable in Bangladesh. But this development is overshadowed by the negative influence of globalization. So long Sheikh Hasina has prevented this degradation in our social life. Before this time when I visited my country I have seen a society with the cohabitation of different classes. This time I observed the sign of decline in this. A new rich class who were under some control previously has again raised their head not caring for any social values. When Abu Maal Muhit was finance minister his budget might not have been great but he tried to reduce the gap of income between the rich and ordinary people. But that obstacle is no more for the rich class. This will affect Hasina's development policy. A large number of sycophants have grown in the society. They are seen everywhere and in the Gono Bhaban also.  I went to a famous tailoring shop to alter my trousers. I asked him how his business was going since now a days everybody is after readymade garments. He replied sarcastically that of course everybody goes for readymade dresses but every week they get order for more than a hundred Mujib coats. I was surprised and asked him who ordered so many Mujib coats every week. He replied not only ministers, MPs or the Upazilla or Zilla Parishad Chairmen but hundreds of Awami League leaders and workers are ordering Mujib coats. Now the city is full of Awami leaders for the national conference and with the year 2020-21 declared as Mujib year one can only imagine how many orders they will receive for Mujib coats. I further asked him how long this market for Mujib coats will continue he again sarcastically replied that the Market will continue as long as Awami League will be in power. When Ziaur Rahman was in power his safari coat was very popular. Now nobody orders it or cares to know what a safari coat is.

I was staying in Dhaka with my old friend Monayem Sarkar in his Shantibagh house. Everyday lots of people of different class or profession came to this house and discussed the situation of the country. They said that it seems that the new rich class created during the Zia regime has got a new lease of life now. The recent onion crisis was made worse by them. This year the onion production is India was short. Knowing this the Mamata government of West Bengal took measures to solve this crisis in time. But in Bangladesh the ministers and the authorities involved seemed totally unaware of this. In spite of the shortage onions were available in the market but they were hidden by some dishonest businessmen. So when rotten onions started coming to market people understood who were responsible for the crisis. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to intervene to solve this crisis. In the meantime those rich people have made huge profit without any moral qualms.

The situation in our educational field is also not good. I was surprised to see many people of whom Awami Leaguers were a majority, in a rat race to establish a madrassa, not a school. When Nurul Islam Nahid was the education minister he could not free the education system or curriculum from the influence of Jamaat. Even the primary textbooks were full of stories against the principles of the Independence war. Even National leaders and the national flag also was not honoured in some of the madrassas. Now Dr. Dipu Moni has taken over the charge of the education ministry. How far she can go and restructure our education system in light of the moral of Independence remains to be seen. But I have heard that the newly established madrassas by pro Jamaatis are getting priority in government's recognition and grants.

I asked a friend of mine who wanted to establish a madrassa that why they do not go for schools because only a modern school would be able to provide its pupils with modern education, He said, 'If I establish a madrassa instead of a school I will get more government help and help from the Middle eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar. Kuwait etc. ' It seems to me that it is now a highly profitable business for the rich class to establish madrassas, not schools. Bangabandhu once said, 'A secular society cannot be developed if communal education system exists in the country'. I do not know with the spreading of madrassa education which is still medieval despite being reformed in character can create a secular society in Bangladesh. I do not know what the thinking of the government is. In the economic field I most fear the rapid expansion of the communal capitalism of India in Bangladesh.

I strongly support the friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and India. But I do not support that under the disguise of this support the expansion of newly developed communal capitalism of India in Bangladesh. I do not know if our present government, who are strongly committed to our independence and sovereignty could tackle this situation?

London, Friday 27 December, 2019

 

My country revisited

I strongly support the friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and India. But I do not support that under the disguise of this support the expansion of newly developed RSS-influenced communal capitalism of India in Bangladesh

I was in my country for 10 days from 11th to 21st December. It is the country where I was born and grew up. Though I live in a foreign land faraway I have regular connection with my motherland. I know its past and I am regularly updated about its present state. This country has suffered in the past from poverty and hunger. Natural disasters are a yearly occurrence here. Shortage of food and essentials have been prevalent in the recent past also. But the country has changed a lot. The rural fabric of society has changed. Dhaka is no more a big village-like city. It is now a mega city with a cosmopolitan character. A new middle class has grown and the globalization has left a big mark on the life of our society. I went to a wedding party in Dhaka and I thought I was in Mumbai. The songs though in Bangla echoed the Hindi songs of Mumbai in their rhythm and sounds. The dances also followed the same pattern. The dresses of the bride and groom were no different from Mumbai. This has shocked me because it is not development but social decline. God bless Sheikh Hasina. She fought bravely against poverty and hunger and removed them from my country. Now beggars are not a big crowd in the airport or in the street. Women are free to come out in the street and the class structure has developed. The sign of urbanization is everywhere but the society lacks moral values. Greediness and hunger for money has swept the whole society. This is a dangerous sign for a developing nation but there is no cure for it and nobody seems to care about it. When I left my country more than 40 years ago the film industry was in its infancy. Though we had film directors like Zahir Raihan, Alamgir Kabir, Subhash Dutta and actor, actresses like Razzak, Hasan Imam, Sumita, Suchanda, Babita, Kabari, Shabana etc. our films had no profitable market like Kolkata. During my recent illness when I was in my hospital bed for two months I used my mobile phone and started to watch Dhaka films along with Kolkata films. I was surprised to see that our film industry has developed so much that it could compete with the films of the neighbouring countries. As an outstanding film maker we can name Humayun Ahmed, Mostafa Sarwar Farooki and others. We can compare the acting skills of Ferdous, Riaz, Afsana Mimi, Purnima, Tisha, Mehjabin, Prova etc. with those of Kolkata or Mumbai. It is our film industry that is under the influence of Mumbai Films. Few directors like Humayun Ahmed and Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu have miraculously escaped the unholy influence of Mumbai culture. Especially, I noticed the acting talents of Bipasha, Purnima and Tisha which could flourish like Sophia Lauren and Meryl Streep if they could have proper guidance of good directors and not utilized by profit loving film makers of Bangladesh. The development of agriculture in the village and the urbanisation of the capital with all other cities is noticeable in Bangladesh. But this development is overshadowed by the negative influence of globalization. So long Sheikh Hasina has prevented this degradation in our social life. Before this time when I visited my country I have seen a society with the cohabitation of different classes. This time I observed the sign of decline in this. A new rich class who were under some control previously has again raised their head not caring for any social values. When Abu Maal Muhit was finance minister his budget might not have been great but he tried to reduce the gap of income between the rich and ordinary people. But that obstacle is no more for the rich class. This will affect Hasinas development policy. A large number of sycophants have grown in the society. They are seen everywhere and in the Gono Bhaban also. I went to a famous tailoring shop to alter my trousers. I asked him how his business was going since now a days everybody is after readymade garments. He replied sarcastically that of course everybody goes for readymade dresses but every week they get order for more than a hundred Mujib coats. I was surprised and asked him who ordered so many Mujib coats every week. He replied not only ministers, MPs or the Upazilla or Zilla Parishad Chairmen but hundreds of Awami League leaders and workers are ordering Mujib coats. Now the city is full of Awami leaders for the national conference and with the year 2020-21 declared as Mujib year one can only imagine how many orders they will receive for Mujib coats. I further asked him how long this market for Mujib coats will continue he again sarcastically replied that the Market will continue as long as Awami League will be in power. When Ziaur Rahman was in power his safari coat was very popular. Now nobody orders it or cares to know what a safari coat is. I was staying in Dhaka with my old friend Monayem Sarkar in his Shantibagh house. Everyday lots of people of different class or profession came to this house and discussed the situation of the country. They said that it seems that the new rich class created during the Zia regime has got a new lease of life now. The recent onion crisis was made worse by them. This year the onion production is India was short. Knowing this the Mamata government of West Bengal took measures to solve this crisis in time. But in Bangladesh the ministers and the authorities involved seemed totally unaware of this. In spite of the shortage onions were available in the market but they were hidden by some dishonest businessmen. So when rotten onions started coming to market people understood who were responsible for the crisis. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to intervene to solve this crisis. In the meantime those rich people have made huge profit without any moral qualms. The situation in our educational field is also not good. I was surprised to see many people of whom Awami Leaguers were a majority, in a rat race to establish a madrassa, not a school. When Nurul Islam Nahid was the education minister he could not free the education system or curriculum from the influence of Jamaat. Even the primary textbooks were full of stories against the principles of the Independence war. Even National leaders and the national flag also was not honoured in some of the madrassas. Now Dr. Dipu Moni has taken over the charge of the education ministry. How far she can go and restructure our education system in light of the moral of Independence remains to be seen. But I have heard that the newly established madrassas by pro Jamaatis are getting priority in governments recognition and grants. I asked a friend of mine who wanted to establish a madrassa that why they do not go for schools because only a modern school would be able to provide its pupils with modern education, He said, If I establish a madrassa instead of a school I will get more government help and help from the Middle eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar. Kuwait etc. It seems to me that it is now a highly profitable business for the rich class to establish madrassas, not schools. Bangabandhu once said, A secular society cannot be developed if communal education system exists in the country. I do not know with the spreading of madrassa education which is still medieval despite being reformed in character can create a secular society in Bangladesh. I do not know what the thinking of the government is. In the economic field I most fear the rapid expansion of the communal capitalism of India in Bangladesh. I strongly support the friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and India. But I do not support that under the disguise of this support the expansion of newly developed communal capitalism of India in Bangladesh. I do not know if our present government, who are strongly committed to our independence and sovereignty could tackle this situation? London, Friday 27 December, 2019