Opinion
Politics of Identity
Man is endowed with reason. Which is an attribute of conscience that implies the existence of an inner cognitive agency which allows us to arrive at moral and ethical truths and to judge moral states of affairs what aided men to be a rational human being. In this setting modern political ideas as constitutional government, consent in political decision making, the right of political and legal representation, the power of adjudication and jurisdiction and so forth have been determined.
We in the present day world constitute a variety of preeminently modern ideas about freedom of expression, equality and justice. Freedom of thought is the unequivocal pre-requisite faculty which leads the present day world at the road for global or universal civilization. The notion of the present day welfare state rationally be based on economic and political factors such as "income" or "class". State will secure the interests of each of its citizens irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
The real essence of a modern state is the promotion of equality, equity, justice, tolerance apart from cult, culture, sect, religion, dogma etc. Any attempted dash towards the state's structure either from religion or from any identical culture shall truncate the nucleus - essence of modern statecraft.
Ironically all the heterogeneous elements for modern statecraft are being hatched in Bangladesh. Political parties those are believed to be the lifeline of modern politics have sized up themselves by religious and identical fervour. Religion and identity based politics in the country basically are jeopardizing harmony and unity.
Actually culture and religion should not be a political 'straitjacket' which allows for only a particular viewpoint on political matters. 'Politics of religion' or 'politics of culture' are both 'politics of identity' which did vehemently spread in our country. 'Only Bangali' or 'Bangali Muslim' which side are we on has become the key question. The rage of religious politics, as it is demonstrated, shows nothing but militancy; on the other hand, culture, as used and propagated by the political parties, is inexorably linked with the idea of 'race' with all its pernicious implications. It is obvious that talking in terms of cultures in politics is fundamentally discriminatory. Fundamentalism and racism both in this periphery are abominating. Both lead to reactionism. Anyone would be alarmed at how remorselessly selfish and narrow-interest ethnic, cultural, religious hatred can, in fact, lead to mass destructiveness.
Our country has already suffered a lot at the pulpit of this identical politics. After the birth of Bangladesh, politics of culture caused the burning issue in the Chittagong Hill Tracts; on the other hand, the upheaval of the fundamentalist activities dismayed the minorities with a feeling of insecurity. Bangladesh simply cannot afford this for many more times. Extremism of any kind - be it is religious, racists or even secular nature - is to be abandoned. Violence of any kind from any of the aforesaid movements is to be abandoned.
Exploiting one's identity for the sake of politics or introducing it in the politics would bring an everlasting side effect. We have to part our company with those who abuse human rights or resort to violence in pursuit of their political goal. If 'politics of identity' cannot be stopped it will ultimately provoke a sort of racism in the society.
Culture is an amalgam of alternatives. Its boundaries are porous. Culture is mostly identified by history, language, tradition and even religion. On the other hand, religion can be understood as it is professed and from its scripture. Both are sometimes intertwined, sometimes different and can flourish jointly or individually. Modern state can extend helping hand for their embellishment, if required, but cannot get painted by these elements. Modern state promotes "politics of practice" by which is meant a politics in which its citizen is judged by what he or she does rather than what he or she is.
When the head of the state from his or her chair proclaim something pertaining to his or her faith or cultural identity, the others not necessarily belonging to the same faith or subscribing to the same cultural identity but very much sons and daughters of the soil naturally get perplexed about their level of citizenship of the same state.
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