Fouzia Shibli

Story

Reason for leaving homeland – It has been a Unhappy Country !

My own story : At My Dream’s Destination

(Shopneyer Thikanaye )

Since my birth in early 1960s, I spent over four decades in the traditional Bangla Speakers’ Land: Bangladesh. Yes, Bangladesh has got lots of unique things such as Six Seasons, abundance of people, vibrant Culture and old heritage of thousands of years, colourful Flora and Fauna, Longest Sea Beach in the World ! But one thing that did hurt me and still hurts me about the Lack of a Stable Pro-Peoples’ Government. In 1757 A.D. the then Kingdom of Bangla, Bihar and Urissa lost its independence to British colonial power. The original undivided Bangla-Land was divide by the British on Religious grounds, Eastern part of Bangla was predominantly inhabited by Bangalee Muslims & the Western part of Bangla was predominantly inhabited by Bangalee Hindus, rest of religious minorities,

Ethnic minorities( Tribals ) were insignificant. Even the Bangla speaking Arakan state in Myanmar( Burma ) was somehow forgotten ! 190 years of Rule by English dominated British Super power continued until August 1947 A.D. The British Ruled Southern Asia primarily divided into India and Pakistan. At that time There was no independent Bangla speakers’ Land. Eastern Bangla became East Pakistan and thousands of miles away Western Pakistan came out in the Global map. Western Bangla was included into the Indian union and known as West Bengal. Now, my birth place is in Jamalpur, Eastern Bangla often called the East Bengal [East Pakistan ] which is present days Bangladesh.

Liberation from British rule did not solve anything, Bangla speakers (Bangalees) in Pakistan became a subjugated Majority by Urdu speaking Pakistanis from the Western wing of Pakistan. They became arbitrary rulers of Pakistani federation and assumed control of Administrative, Economic, Military and Political systems and any demand for equal rights for Bangla speaking Pakistanis with Urdu speaking Pakistanis resulted in very Violent repressive actions against the Bangalee majority in the then Pakistani Federation ! There was Bangla Language movement in 1952, after bloodshed and stormy protests Bangla was then recognised as one of the two State Languages of Pakistan. Then in 1960s various movements for Civil rights, Autonomy led to the Military intervention and loss of many Bangalee lives in confrontations with the Pakistani regime.

I always suffered silently seeing these turbulences, then Floods and Tornados killed many of my Kins-people. There had been constant struggle by the mass for basic Human needs such as Food, Clothing, Shelter, Healthcare and Education and the ruling regime never met these needs. I was a Primary Schooler in late 1960s & happened to read Geography, gathered information about Peaceful prosperous Lands Abroad. Dreams of going and residing in a Peaceful country far away from this Bangladesh stirred me in my conscience. Yes, there are Lands where people do Live in peace, no Political strife and turbulence. There are few Lucky countries known as the ‘Godzone Country’. But attachments to my country of Birth overrode my dreams.

With my own eyes I saw the War of Liberation for Bangladesh in 1971 and during the war Three million Bangalee people were killed by those Pakistani Forces with their collaborators. Many fled to the neighbouring country and returned to Bangladesh after liberation. We thought that now after Liberation things would be Peaceful, prosperous and we would Live Happily Ever After. The reality was very different,

The First Government pardoned those war criminals, included returned expatriate Bangalee Bureaucrats into the Administration and adopted nepotism, favouritism and self-interests over National interests. Misrule, mismanagements and corruptions Led to Famine in Bangladesh in 1974. Many people unfortunately Died. Then, Declaration of one party Rule in early days of 1975 effectively undermined the system of Bangladeshi Democracy.

In August 1975, Military forces backed by corrupt politicians & Foreign powers took over the Government with bloodshed killing many people including Founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Later on many Military takeovers, coups, anarchy continued and in 1991 BNP led by Begum Khaleda Zia took over power from deposed Army Chief and self-made President Ershad. Now the elected BNP Government allied with the Islamic Fundamentalists to reinforce their power. Political violences continued and the usual problems of population explosions worsened the situation. Peace never lasted in Bangladesh. So in 1996 People voted for Awami League and elected them to parliament to Govern the Country.

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