As a member of the new generation of the twenty-first century, I live in the United States but try to understand my native country's various political aspects at the same time. Since I reside in the United States, I know that I'll keep an eye on US politics regularly, but I feel it is also my duty to observe Bangladeshi politics. I try to understand its history and make connection to other nation's political situations to learn some lesson for a third-world nation in South Asia.
As a student, I look at the Language Movement of Bangladesh as a courageous effort by college and university students. It was primarily the students of college and university who fought for the former East Pakistan's mother language, Bangla, and died at the hands of former Pakistani security forces like police. In the history of mankind, this was the first time that people fought and died for their mother language which many westerners are not aware of. Later on, the West Pakistani government officially let East Pakistanis have Bangla as their mother language. It was primarily due to the students that current Bangladesh earned Bangla as their official language after the sacrifice of some lives in 1952.
Students also performed a major role in the Bangladeshi Liberation War of 1971. Their performance in the war was the initial step in the war movement. The Awami Chatra and Juba League which was mainly composed of students acted well to organize youngsters in the war. They also helped to aid the injured freedom-fighters while performing the fight for freedom. Because the nation's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman allowed student politics to some extent, the student league members were able to perform significant role in the liberation war.
From this perspective, we can see how the students of the last century played crucial role in the current Bangladesh's formation. At the end, an independent nation was formed with the name Bangladesh, defeating Pakistani armies and throwing them out from East Pakistan. The sacrifice of students' lives in 1952 paid off and recognized internationally by UNESCO in 1999 as the International Mother Language for February 21 of each year. Since then, more than 180 countries which are member states of UNESCO celebrate this event along with Bangladesh itself.
But now, if we look at what's going on in that country Bangladesh, we would be shocked at how the current interim government is treating students. In the month of August 2007, the so-called military-backed Fakhruddin government tortured, brutally beat and arrested many students without any major cause. Students were taken out from their residence halls and arrested from other residencies around the campus area. The government gave a deadline to students to leave Dhaka University, the so-called Oxford of the East, by 8PM when they issued curfew at the same time. Students were harassed by security forces all throughout the time.
All of this started off when a army officer had argument with a student during a football game. The student was harassed by that officer which caused riot among the students. This quickly spread throughout the whole nation as people came down to the streets asking for the removal of armies from the campus area. People also had another deep anger toward the interim government for the rising cost of living. The government, on the other hand, took this as a threat to remove them from power. As a result of this misunderstanding, the country experienced a clash that caused turmoil.
At the end, the government accused students and teachers for igniting people to protest against the government. But did they forget what happened in 1952 and 1971? Students were the initiators of earning the language for current Bangladesh. Students were also a major players in fighting for the liberation of the nation from current Pakistan. Now, the same students are ignited after a small misunderstanding which paved a road for people to protest against the ongoing rising cost of everyday items. Even with the current anti-corruption movement, the country is still experiencing record high cost of living when a majority of the people live under poverty line.
Along with this, the current government is pushing for abandoning student politics in the country. But did they forget the lessons that 1952 and 1971 taught? Did they not remember the role of the students in bringing Bangla as the mother language for the country? Did they not remember how the students actively participated in the country's liberation war? Then, why would this temporary government try to devalue the students and stop them from further active roles in the country's various aspects?
