What rumors are going on about Bangladesh in India, what scale of provocation is going on there or where the Bangladesh flag is located – let our behavior not be shaped by them. There should be no insult to the Indian flag within the borders of Bangladesh. Insulting the flag of any country does not make us great as a nation. Painting the flag of any country on the sidewalk at the entrance of an educational institution, burning the flag – these are not expressions of sound conscience. In Sheikh Saadi’s famous poem ‘Uttam O Udham’, “A dog’s work is done by a dog/and gets bitten, so why does a dog bite/and a man get the glory?” – let the feet become the constitution of our lifestyle. Or the widely read famous poem ‘Pratidaan’ written by the poet Jasimuddin, “The one who speaks the word of Nithuria, I take my friend, her face, from where I come, I arrange it continuously / I cry to embrace the one who has done it for me.” Let the four verses be the source of maintaining mutual friendship.
Bangladesh’s relations with India are woven with historical threads. The names and sacrifices of Indians are engraved with gratitude in the hearts of Bengalis with the birth history of Bangladesh. After the rise of the BJP led by Narendra Damodar Das Modi to the throne of power in India after the 2014 elections, not only Bangladesh but also their relations with the people of every neighboring country or state have reached the bottom. There is extreme hostility with some. India’s relations with China and Pakistan have always been contradictory. But the dharam-muharram relations that were with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan or the Maldives are now in the most fragile position in history. India’s relations with the ruling party of Afghanistan and the ruling party of Sri Lanka are on paper! The boy who says that all the students in the class misbehave with him should discover all the serious problems that he has. India has always judged the crimes of others. It has never put itself in the neutral mirror of relations for evaluation. It will take a few more years to evaluate the historical mistake that India has made by establishing relations with the state for the sake of interests rather than establishing relations with the state for the sake of interests. Now signs of opposition to India have started appearing around the border. India now has no friends on the border; those who are not enemies are also not well-wishers of India.
The political agenda of the BJP government was to assert extremist Hindutva and to remain in power exclusively through vote politics. Although the Modi-led government was temporarily successful in this game of destruction within the borders of India, it has lost almost all its friends. The world is moving forward. The yardstick of measuring people by religious beliefs has never been universal. As a result, those who have tried to gain political benefits by patronizing religion and showing off their power have been rejected. Because religious fanaticism and extremism have not found a lasting refuge in establishing relations with healthy and normal people. It is undeniable that Bangladesh is dependent on Indian trade in various ways. Bangladesh is also a profitable market for India’s larger sphere. The people of the two countries are deeply involved in the web of spiritual, cultural and social relations. But when the sovereignty of Bangladesh is under threat, when the state institutions of a country are involved in spreading false propaganda about Bangladesh, or when a country declares open hostility against another country, then it is only a matter of time before relations with that country are severed. The spirit of boycotting India has already become strong in this country. Efforts are being made to find alternative markets by establishing commercial relations with other countries of the world. However, this was not supposed to happen. The one-sided attitude of India’s foreign policy towards Bangladesh is largely responsible for creating such a bitter relationship between Bangladesh and India. It is unimaginable in this day and age that any sovereign power would show unquestioning loyalty to another. Not everyone can be a tailor!
Whatever happens in India, whatever India does – let us not do the foolishness of insulting the national anthem, the national flag or showing hostility towards the general public. The number of extremists is small everywhere. Those who are good, civilized and educated are aware of the truth. Already, there has been a split in India on the Bangladesh issue. Conscious Indians have not involved themselves in the trap of BJP or the false propaganda of some media outlets, but are protesting strongly. Let us also express wisdom from our position. The mentality of taking revenge against any injustice of that country by hurting the emotional issues of that country is the opposite of violence. We have no enmity with India, our enmity is against the anti-Bangladesh policy of the ruling party. I will call upon and hope that India will soon know the truth and then comment against Bangladesh. Three extremists have been arrested for insulting the Bangladesh flag in Kolkata, those responsible for the attack on the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Agartala have been arrested and dismissed – these are good initiatives of the state government there. Let their stance against injustice and extremism remain steadfast. Let relations return to their previous level – but in a pure manner.
If the Indian flag is desecrated in Bangladesh too, the guilty and responsible must be arrested. The rumors and incitement that are being spread in India citing the persecution of the Hindu minority are not actually happening in Bangladesh. However, there is no room for denying that some isolated accidents have not happened. The government must also suppress internal extremism in Bangladesh with a strong hand. If it can ensure punishment for the guilty wherever possible, internal peace and order in Bangladesh will be maintained. Those who spread false propaganda and create panic or those who intend to gain any other interests must be identified and handed over to the law. Extremism – by whichever party it may be – is rejected. The patience that the general public of Bangladesh has shown in the past is commendable. This time, that environment of peace and coexistence must be maintained through the bonds of national unity and communal harmony. In the civilized world, attacking ahead is tantamount to unforgiving extremism. Rather, if you build resistance after being attacked, you will receive grace from God. It becomes more acceptable to people. Everyone is in favor of Ukraine on the Crimea issue. The history of Shariah and war in the early era of Islam teaches us not to attack but to resist.
So that India cannot create any panic inside Bangladesh, awareness campaigns should be increased in religious institutions, namely temples-mosques-churches and pagodas. Patriotism should be taught in educational institutions. Just as it is important to protect one’s honor, it is even more important not to destroy the honor of others. There is no merit in destroying relationships, but there is merit in preserving relationships. However, we must be aware that the bridge of relationships is built on the basis of equality and fairness. Someone is spreading propaganda in our name and we are also spreading counter-propaganda against that propaganda – this is not the desired path to a solution. India is going in the wrong direction – it will take time for them to realize this, but patience and awareness are desired from the entire nation so that we do not fall into the trap of error and increase the dispute. This country belongs to Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians. National consensus is necessary so that even the slightest right of anyone is not taken away. Not hope but faith – Bangladesh will not lose its way.
To protect the sovereignty of Bangladesh, to save the value of the flag or to uphold the map, our steel-strong unity is necessary. We must be ready to sacrifice blood and life. We must do whatever is necessary to keep good relations between Bangladeshi and Indian ordinary citizens intact. But we must also be vocal against India’s hegemonic policies. The state must ensure that no one takes the path of violence to resist any of their injustices. Our Shah Abudal Karim, “What a beautiful day we used to have/The young Hindus of the village, the Muslims/I sang the songs of the Milia Baula and the Murshidi.”- We must join hands regardless of religion and caste to ensure that such a humane Bangladesh remains in our thoughts and consciousness. The extremists of India want to turn the golden Bangladesh into a crematorium. Domestic and foreign conspiracies are going on for the purpose of implementation. We should always love the country by standing for humanity and humanity. It is important for all of us to be vigilant so that the enemies of the country and the nation do not succeed in their evil attempts. If we have a sense of nationalism, if there is collective unity, no conspiracy of the enemy will be able to create a rift between us. We will all collectively pronounce, “My golden Bengal, I love you” and will hold and cherish the feeling of patriotism in our hearts in faith and work, that is, in general – let the oath be illuminated with this hope.
