Reflections on our 34th Independence Day

Though BTV has lost its spectators due to regularly monotonous programmes, on Mrach 26 we watch BTV to see how the day is observed throughout the country.

We the people are baffled to see how historically distorted programmes are aired by the national TV channel. It seems that the party which occupies the state power retains the right to show the countrymen whatever they like through the TV screen. It tends to consider that the people of this country are devoid of rationality and they will believe whatever they are told through this small screen owned by the republic.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The history of the birth of Bangladesh accrued from a series of events which many of the young and old generations of this country experienced and witnessed directly. No discussion and no TV debate or ceremony can change their belief gained through their practical experiences. The appearance of Bangladesh on the world map definitely records our greatest achievement in our national history. As a nation it is our moral obligation and duty to show real respect to those whose contribution is historically recorded and acclaimed to achieve this independence. Every democratic nation sees government and opposition with some dissenting views, but in matter of national interest and history, they show no difference. But we, the unfortunate nation, have yet to show this generosity.

We witnessed five years of BTV programmes on national issues from 1996 to 2001. The party in power aired all the programmes in such a way as to suggest that the late Shaheed President Ziarur Rahman made no contribution to our freedom movement. From everywhere his name was rubbed out.

In the same way, the present government observes the Independence Day without uttering even a single time the name of the undisputed leader of this nation, Bangabadhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman. It seems he did nothing for the people of this country. It seems he had no patriotism. It seems he was an alien to this nation and independence of this country. Don't we distort history when we say these things?

Both the AL and BNP took their birth to respond to the needs of the time. Both the parties enjoyed the state power duly managed by the people of this country. The country has witnessed and known the weaknesses and positive sides of both the parties. Necessarily there must have been dissenting views and ideals of both the parties. Both the parties are being represented by the patriotic people of this country. So what is the harm in recognizing the contribution of our national leaders who scarified their lives for the sake of this country? Crores of people witnessed the turbulent days of movement. Millions of people are still alive who directly played a role in our independent movement. But the parties in power deliberately want to expose distorted things before them.

The thirty four years of our history has been characterized by mistrust, blaming, counter-blaming each other, trying to change and counter-change history, claming and counter-claming the credit for achieving freedom and doing good for the country. As a result, the condition of the people and their basic needs have remained unaddressed and ignored. Since the birth of this nation, more than one hundred and eighty thousand crore taka has come to the country as donation from different countries of the world, but poverty still reigns supreme at every step and in every sector. We have miserably failed to utilize the money for public welfare. Definitely this country could have been turned into Golden Bengal had the decision makers of this country utilized the money properly.

If the BNP recognizes the contribution of Bangabandhu and AL of Ziaur Rahman would they lose anything? Would they loss their party supporters? No. The people of this country are politically more conscious. They must not be fooled by any means of exploitation. The people of this country generally support either BNP or AL as no comparable third big and strong political party has so far come into existence. They support these two parties without considering their degree of contribution to the freedom movement. They support the parties to see economic change in the country. They want to see security of human life, they want to embrace perennial development of the country, they want to see a bright and prospective future of the nation. They put less importance now on the facts our main political parties frequently debate. But definitely they don't want to see their history distorted. They want to see their national leaders are duly honoured and recognized irrespective of their party affiliation. We must rise to the occasion in the greater interest of the national, otherwise it would be tantamount to treachery to our national heroes whose sacrifice for the nation is incomparable, and who are resting peace in their eternal place. If we cannot come out of this meanness, how can we expect our future generation to deal with truth?

Evaluate public opinion, give weight to public demands. Try to win their heart not with any falsehood, rather with some genuine phenomenon. For the national interest employ all of your efforts, ends, and needs. Definitely people will evaluate you. Don't try to speak ill against nation going outside the country just to gain political ends and party benefits. People will never spare you. Don't try to distort history and devalue public opinion. Don't try to find fault with others only. Try to find your own faults also through looking glass. Put the national interest above everything. The nation will evaluate you. Much time has passed, it will never come again. Start building the nation in its true perspective. Try to address the genuine problems of the country in the truest sense of the term. Don't divide the nation into two. Give a unique shape to the nation. Avoid destructive political culture. Behave rationally. Curb corruption, rein in terrorism, build power-plants, establish industries, make more employment, and educate the people.

We must make the meaning of Independence Day clear to the hungry and half-fed people who own the soil of this country. The message of Independence Day must be made meaningful to them. The fruits of independence must be made available to them. If only the privileged ones have access to the fruits of independence, then our nation will never reflect the spirit of freedom and independence. Due share must be apportioned to those who deserve it, otherwise history will never pardon us. To make our independence meaningful, we must forget party and petty interest. We must love the country in the truest sense. Genuine patriotism never allows anyone to ignore the real heroes of the country.

Md. Masum Billah is a development activist.