A talk show
Some time back during my stay in Dhaka I happened to witness one of such programmes on Diganta TV channel. The interviewee was a veteran politician-- A.S.M.A. Rab.
I was taken aback and bewildered soon after the first introductory question was thrown at Mr Rab which I quote for the readers “You are a Japanese. Isn't it?” In reply the politician remained calm, silent and made no expression including his body language whatsoever. Incidentally, Mr Rab was born in Ramgati, an offshore island within the district of Noakhali. If an imminent presenter could go down to that level in his thinking and outlook about fellow Bangladeshi nationals and utter such things in front of the viewers, what can we expect from ordinary citizens? Most unfortunate though is that ordinary Bangladeshis are seen addressing each other by the districts of their birth and even expressing contempt towards each other at times. Mr Rab probably could have taught him a lesson by addressing him as 'Ghati' and watch his reactions. May be he did not want to go down to his level.
I remember during the Pakistani days anybody overhearing Bangla in public at Karachi used to get attracted to other fellow East Pakistanis and feel so close to each other. Our unity used to be rock solid in those days. But soon after creation of Bangladesh that sense of oneness vanished into thin air and people got overwhelmed in their thinking and narrow outlook that only districtism and regionalism became the prime concern.
We are so lucky that we almost all speak one language and the vast majority of us have the single faith, while having good regard for other religious faiths. It is also equally true and undeniable that we as a nation are narrow minded and we all suffer from complex. Our outlooks are regrettably very poor. It was the leaders who right from the start failed to instil the feeling of nationalism among us. This is detrimental to our national unity and is a clear sign of falling apart. We are divided and subdivided in so many ways though mostly created by the political leaders. This has been sowed right from the beginning when district quota for jobs became the criterion ignoring fair selection through open competitions on the basis of merit. The government of Sheikh Hasina has fuelled the situation beyond all proportions by openly declaring her policy and siding with her party cadres.
The political leaders must change their age old attitude and try to bring the nation together as one Bangladeshi alone. They must discard petty party interest and abolish district quota etc. The children from the primary level must learn national anthem and take oath in the assembly to be worthy Bangladeshi nationals.
History has proved that nobody can win fighting against the people of the land. In absence of rock solid unity and strong feeling of nationalism, one day our hard earned freedom will disappear. It is the prime need of the hour whether we eat or not. By addressing each other in such a silly manner, we are causing irreparable damage to our national unity and future generations. Any one can be born anywhere in Bangladesh and that should have nothing to do with one's rights and entitlements. We all must learn to be Bangladeshi first and not Bengali. After all, we have our own distinct culture and identity, quite different to other Bengalis living outside our boundary.
As regards renaming the district of Noakhali it deserves consideration. Though the greater district has become one third of its former size but the tiny area still bears the old name though in reality it has no significance. There is no place or even a village inside the small district by this name. All districts are known by its headquarters but not Noakhali.
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