Bangladesh: so close and yet so far

Bengal, no doubt has remained the land of conspiracies and struggles, yet the role played by the Bengalis of the eastern wing in the freedom movement cannot be denied. East Bengal was in fact the home of the Pakistan Movement. Nevertheless, the Indians exploited 2 weak points of East Pakistan; economy and the language, to their best. Besides a large number of Hindu teachers, professors, government servants who preferred not to migrate to India in 1947, the Bengali culture was also dominated by the Indian customs and culture which played a vital role in turning the Bengali Muslims against their West Pakistani non Bengali brethren whom some of the radicals hatefully used to call “Shaala Punjabi”. One can well imagine how a youngster will grow up who is taught as a child that “Ram is a good boy and Rahim is bad boy.” Mujib assured his nation a Utopian Land “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) however; soon the people of Bangladesh started becoming conscious of the fact that Mujibur was a wolf in a sheep’s casing.

Just within 4 years the majority of the Bengalis lost their cool and finally the day arrived when in the wee hours of August 15, 1975, a group of army officers kicked a military coup and it took Mujib no time to turn as a bandit from a Bandhu. That’s a bygone story but unfortunately, his daughter and the political heir Sheikh Haseena Wajid has aggravated the situation to the next level, who is taking revenge from every person whom she considers Awami League’s enemy or Pakistan’s supporter. Despite the heart ache caused by the separation of the Eastern wing Pakistan always tried to develop cordial relations with BD as a Muslim state. Gifting the F-6s to the BD Air Force and helping their cricket team to attain the test status are few of the things on record but what Pakistan got in return was always a hate, especially during AL’s tenures.

My son is a cricket lover to the extent of insanity. He never misses any championship held in the subcontinent and the Middle East. The Johnny was in Bangladesh in March 2014 where he had gone to see T20 championship. Usually, he doesn’t discuss his cricket safaris with me even when he is back-home, Nevertheless, this was the first time that he made a call and talked about two things in his brief call; “Dad! While coming out of the stadium, I was stopped by an elderly Bengali who was in his late 60s and was asked if I am a Pakistani. On my affirmation he said why in 1975 when Mujib was assassinated and the message from the revolutionists was sent to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto about the reunification of Pakistan was turned down?” Ignoring his query sheepishly, I asked him about the next question. In exciting voice he said, “Aboo! Did you see that video on internet showing a Bengali spectator requesting a Pakistani cricket fan to give him his green shirt which he did”? On my affirmation he exclaimed, “Well, the same thing happened to me and few other Pakistanis as soon as the match between India Pakistan was over. I was standing alone and depressed wearing my green cricket shirt when a Bengali young boy of my age came to me and said, “Sorry the boys couldn’t win despite our fullest support and slogans”. I thanked him for his kind words when he started again in very poor Urdu, “Bhoi! Tumi um ko yea green shirt Allah k wostay dedo. Aami Pakistan ko boht love kerta hae (Brother! For the sake of Allah please give me your green shirt. I love Pakistan too much)”. My worried response was, “Did you give him the shirt or not”? “Sure dad, how could I refuse him?” my son replied my query. I said, “I am happy son that you presented that shirt to a ‘genuine Pakistani’; the native of a place that is called as the home of Muslim League. If you have some more souvenirs, never hesitate to gift those to your Bengali brothers. As far as about your first question, avoid such people who ask you that why we refused a reunification because no patriot like me has an answer for that”.

I am sure most of us must have seen that clip where a Bengali boy asking a Pakistani spectator for his green cricket shirt which in reality was an eye opener for those who forbade the Bengalis from hoisting Pakistani flag and raising pro Pak slogans in the stadium, although on a forceful displeasure by the international community and strong resentment by their public they had to take the decision back. It was a slap on those faces as well, who thought about the two nations theory as a drowned vessel in the Indian Ocean.

Leaving this positive and encouraging aspect aside, lets analyse Sheikh Haseena and her cronies’ hateful behaviour to the Muslims generally and Pakistan particularly. Everyone loves his national language but her followers celebrated the “Language Day” on 21^st Feb 17 in a disgusting and shameful way, when Asif Ali; a 4^th year Pakistani medical student of Sir Salimullah Medical College was physically manhandled by a Bengali class fellow Rezaul Karim Hridoy who not only tortured and abused him but asked him to apologize also for the wrong doings by Pakistani forces in Bangladesh. Sadly, a video footage of this incident was also made. However, this was not the first case. Prior to it, Zeedan; a student from Lahore was also picked by BD forces in 2009, who is not traceable till date. An ex PAF person Khalid’s apprehension is just another story. If it can happen to Asif then what is the surety that the same will not happen to seven other Pakistani students who are studying in the same college, currently?

There is a great bitterness among the majority of Bangladeshis about the belated draconian decisions of 2003/2013 taken by the Kangaroo courts of BD against the so called war crimes of 1971. The ongoing lawyer movement is one such example. The late president Zia ur Rehman was deadly against Mujib’s leaning towards India hence he tried to project a soft image of Bangladesh by his ideology which made him very popular. The AL’s undemocratic and ruthless actions against its opponents have not only turned their public against them but have also created a strong awakening amongst them about their natural ties and bindings with Pakistan. A question, often prowls in one’s mind that if no one could stop the making of Bangladesh then how can the remaking of united Pakistan can be stopped by anyone, if that’s in the creation? Time for Haseena Bibi to think over it seriously!