By Salahuddin Babur
In social interactions, traveling with companions, engaging in humor, and exchanging greetings, there are usually no significant problems. One can travel a long way together if at least 51% of their thoughts and beliefs align. On the other hand, if there is a 51% disagreement in thoughts and beliefs with someone, debates, disputes, and separations are not just normal but inevitable. This truth is not only applicable to individuals but also an undeniable reality in society and state life.
Currently, there is a stark contrast in thoughts and beliefs between those who consider themselves authorities in this territory and about 90% of the population. As a result, the country’s situation has reached this critical point. However, there may be differing opinions on this matter.
This disagreement has led to the current commotion. The authorities are showing extreme strength and intolerance. In response, children, adolescents, and young people are expressing their anger in the fields, cities, towns, and ports with fresh blood. Some contemporary heroes support these fearless youths by standing with them, while others, sitting behind their desks, draw the lines of justice and injustice with their pens. Even those who have been fatigued by time are not sitting idle; they express their pain and suffering through various outlets. Those burdened by age or illness shed tears, and where those drops fall, inflammation arises.
The last refuge for innocent birds is their small nest. If they return to their nest at dusk only to find it destroyed, they are left helpless. In this civilized era, where is the last refuge for humanity? There is no need to say anything about this because the awareness and judgment of today’s people have reached the peak of the Himalayas. Therefore, there is no room for further addition or subtraction.
Let’s take a look at some news. What is the current state of the last refuge for humanity? In this regard, we must proceed with caution and stay away from danger. The time is not good; danger is knocking at every door. Just pray for some resolution. Everyone knows that no matter how much one jumps, everyone has limitations. Time has a final limit that no one can surpass. Let’s leave this discussion here and start with the news.
The first news worth mentioning was printed over two months ago. It should be noted that the news being quoted here might provoke discussion. It includes both past and recent events. Readers might question the continuity of these events. The connection could only be the deviation itself. All deviations will be included here. The news story to start with is not a tall tale. It was published in the Daily Prothom Alo on May 27, 2024, under the headline “Monir Acquitted in Another Case.” The news reports that Monir Hossain, also known as ‘Golden Monir,’ was acquitted in the Special Powers Act case involving the recovery of eight kilograms of gold and one crore taka after a weapons case. The court’s verdict confirmed that the 10.9 million taka, eight kilograms of gold, and foreign currency seized by RAB from Monir’s home and business in Badda were legally earned. Legally, there is no longer any question about how this vast amount of money came to be.
After Monir’s arrest, RAB had announced at a press conference that Monir, who had once worked as a sales assistant at a clothing store in Gausia Market, became known as ‘Golden Monir’ due to his association with airport-based smugglers. Initially, Monir smuggled goods like clothing, cosmetics, electronic items, and computer supplies, evading taxes. Later, he became the owner of numerous plots through land grabbing. The police ‘investigated’ the two cases filed by RAB involving weapons and gold recovery, resulting in the dismissal of all charges. Now, ‘Golden Monir’ is as pure as the driven snow.
A few years before Monir’s story, the ‘Casino King’ and his associates were also detained. One fine morning, the King and all the King’s men were released with great pomp. The question remains: why were they detained, and how were they released? No one received an answer. Who has the courage to ask? On January 7, 2024, an event called ‘election’ took place here, filled with surprises. Surely everyone remembers those surprises because they were not trivial. A leader, once burdened by numerous cases and attacks, suddenly became a close ally of the ruling party. All cases disappeared in an instant. There are many such stories, none of which are fabrications. A person without awareness might ask why the cases were filed and where they went. Everyone knows the English word ‘miracle.’ Miracle Mia can turn day into night with his magic spell. Behind the black curtain that covers him during the spellcasting is Humpty Dumpty and all the King’s men, the orchestrators of these miracles. Those who have such men need not worry but can rejoice.
Everyone has seen and heard. If there is some deviation in a remote village, a commendable initiative is taken from Dhaka. However, there are always exceptions in society. This time, too, some exceptions have caused pain to many. Yet, no one dared to speak up because, as mentioned earlier, no one knows when danger will knock on their door. Where will one find refuge if danger strikes? The children, adolescents, and youths who shook the streets demanding justice for quota discrimination, what happened to their leaders? Everyone knows their fate. Did they find any refuge?
Most people consider the students’ protests and activities to be a historic and unprecedented movement. If anyone doubts this, there is no need to argue. Every event is recorded somewhere, broadly speaking, in history. History has two sides. Those who evaluate it logically see it positively. Those who consider it unnecessary and harmful see it negatively. There is no need to debate this. Time will give it its due evaluation and determine everyone’s proper place.
The point of this preamble is to present a specific topic. The students recently shook the streets, towns, cities, and ports. A different history has been written about the coordinators Nahid and his associates. Intimidating the protesters on the streets did not deter them. Let’s leave that chapter for now.
There is a saying in this country: ‘shifting the blame onto someone else.’ This practice has been prevalent for the last fifteen years. During the movement against discrimination, many places were set on fire. As usual, attempts are being made to shift the blame. However, the truth always finds a way to come out. One such news story was recently published in the country’s leading national daily. This writing will end by quoting that news. The headline is “Eight Youths Confess, Labor League Leader Arrested.” Let’s delve into the news. In Chittagong, a Laguna driver was contracted for four lakh taka to set fire to four BRTC buses. Police arrested the driver, Sohel Rana (32), after identifying him from CCTV footage. Based on his information, Labor League president Didarul Alam was arrested in Bayezid Bostami on Monday. Sohel gave a confessional statement in court on Tuesday, stating that he set the buses on fire under Didarul’s orders, for which he was to be paid four lakh taka but received only 500 taka in advance.
On July 20, at midnight, four BRTC buses were set on fire in the depot on the Oxygen-Hathazari road in Chittagong. There are more details in the news. Since the cat is already out of the bag, there is no need to spend more space. If readers want to read the full news, they can check page three of the Daily Prothom Alo from July 24. P.S.: Just as you don’t need to taste all the rice in the pot to check if it’s cooked, the incident in Chittagong hints at the broader truth.
