Those whose sacrifice sustains the nation, those whose greed is losing hope

Patriotism! We can discuss this with those who genuinely possess it. The farmers of this country are patriots. Despite the scorching summer sun, torrential rains, and biting cold, they remain engrossed in the dream of cultivating golden crops. But it’s futile to discuss patriotism with those whose children study abroad and have no intention of returning, those who convert all their income, except for basic living expenses, into dollars, pounds, and rupees to send abroad. Listening to sermons on patriotism from them is a waste of time.

Those who, though Indian, Sri Lankan, or Western, work in Bangladesh and send all their money home at the end of the month are far more patriotic than those Bangladeshis who illegally smuggle the hard-earned money of Bangladeshi farmers and laborers to Canada and America. Such dishonest people have never truly understood the life of a farmer or laborer!

For some in our country, discussions about patriotism are merely a means to deceive the common people and enrich oneself and one’s family. Here, one can amass billions of taka through politics and buy hundreds of houses abroad, earn trillions of taka in business syndicates and store them in foreign banks, or build lavish mansions by exploiting the people in the name of service. Many of those who loudly proclaim their patriotism in public gatherings and teach patriotism to the younger generation have led the country towards plunder.

Even after fifty-two years of independence, our country’s economic foundation remains weak. The wealth visibly present in this country is far less than the invisible savings of a few people in foreign lands. Otherwise, we would not have heard about the smuggling of 93 billion dollars in the last decade and a half. More money has been smuggled out of Bangladesh in 16 years than the combined reserves of 90 countries. Can you imagine who has the capacity to do this? We can no longer console this nation with tales of patriotism.

If one were to honor a patriot, it would have to be the millions of remittance workers who have left their families behind to toil in foreign lands. These workers, through their arduous labor and often inhumane living conditions, are the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy. The sacrifices they make are unimaginable to many who claim to be patriots.

The relentless efforts of garment workers and farmers are selfless, unlike those who merely pay lip service to patriotism. If these individuals were truly self-serving, they would have long abandoned this country. Only a few groups, realizing the potential for profit, continue to wave the flag of patriotism. They seek a better life in America and Canada, ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Many who loudly proclaim their patriotism are, in reality, hypocrites. Their involvement in corruption, money laundering, and the neglect of national interests contradicts their claims. Those who send their families abroad, believing that Bangladesh has no future, are hardly deserving of the title ‘patriot.’ Corruption, while harmful, can sometimes stimulate the economy. However, when wealth is illegally transferred out of the country, it undermines the nation’s very foundation.

It is ironic that many Bangladeshis who despise America and Britain, and who have strained relations with India, seek refuge in these very countries. The children of many so-called patriots are growing up abroad, never to return to Bangladesh.

Our nation’s fate has been derailed ever since our superficial patriotism and genuine belief in the country began to weaken. Those who envisioned their golden years in foreign lands like America and Canada, while exploiting their own country in their youth, never truly loved their homeland. As this class has held the reins of power, the dream of a well-organized Bangladesh where everyone can live peacefully and independently has remained elusive. Instead, we’ve witnessed a systematic destruction of even the good things. If our leaders were truly patriotic, we could have adopted the successful systems of developed nations. Students studying abroad would have returned to contribute to our nation-building efforts. It’s no surprise that young people grow up with little love for a country that appears to be constantly falling apart. The entire nation is suffering from the greed and self-serving actions of these pseudo-patriots. I don’t know how long this will continue, but I believe that the time to put an end to this immorality is near.