I thought, I will write about politics in social construction. Later I thought why construction? The prefix 'B' before construction is used in a positive sense. In a country where there is no such thing as positivity in politics, is the title 'Politics in Social Construction' reasonable? Rather, it is important to discuss the role that politics plays in social construction.
Personally, I am lucky because I saw the birth of Bangladesh. I was a citizen of a subordinate country by birth. I saw myself becoming free with the independence of the country gained in the Liberation War. I also know what a refugee is and who he is. Although I was young in 1971, I was old enough to open my mind. After the country became independent, I also saw the Bangabandhu era. In 1972, the country that thought it would move forward with dreams and ideals, I had the misfortune of seeing it start to go backwards.
Unfortunately, the murder of Mahbub Parag, a student union activist who was shot dead by the police in 1973, was the ultimate surprise of my adolescence! The night when Baksal, then Bangabandhu and his family members were killed was the turning point, the final outcome of which was the prison massacre of November 3, 1975.
Such heinous inhumane murders are not seen very often in world history. That night, the grave of ideological politics was basically dug. After that, the politics of the black chapter was the backstory of Zia's military rule and the return of the brokers. In that continuity, the dictator Ershad, and the events that followed are not unknown to any of us.
Now the question is, will we live with the past? Or will we think about our next generation and the few generations that are slowly growing up? No nation compromises with its future. We are the only ones who dwell on the past instead of thinking about the future.
The pain that arises in our minds as expatriate Bangladeshis when we look at the country cannot be said frankly. Even friends think that people living comfortably abroad do not have the right to say these things. Is that really true? Shouldn't those who contribute to the country's remittances and boost the country's economy have the right to speak? If not, then even leaders outside the country would not have the right to speak.
The issue of politics in building society arises because there is no politics in the country now. Not only in Bangladesh, but in any country in the world, there is no politics like before. The external reason for the absence is 'technology'. After the advent of digital media, especially mobile phones, the youth have turned their backs on politics. This is a universal truth. But there will be no benefit in comparing it with developed countries. In countries or societies where democracy is gaining ground, voting rights can be exercised in elections without any worries.
However, their reality is not the same as ours. In our country, democracy is actually a golden deer. When those who are in the opposition party raise their voices in society saying they want democracy. However, when they are in power, they completely forget about democracy. If they just forget, then everyone becomes a big dictator. Is the need for politics really worth dismissing in such a society? Or is it possible?
There is no politics in society, but is there no non-politics? There is no religious fanaticism? There is no propaganda? There is everything else, only pure politics. That is why everyone is obsessed with religion, reform, positions, and titles. Culture has been lost.
There is no music. There is no organization for children. There is no spread of art and culture. However, because there was politics once, these never lost their way. Leaving aside everything, just think about street plays. Although there were many contradictory works, there was no shortage of good works in street plays.
Even leaving aside everything, these activities basically unified our society. They showed that protest can be an art. Those processes are now dead, which is why the emergence of hero alams in society has become possible. Hero alam is just a symbol. They were born due to the evil ways of politics due to the decline of art and culture. It should be remembered that no criminal or evil person is born in the mother's womb. They are born by society.
That is why the role of politics is important in building society. We will remember that the society of the country before 1971 was dependent on politics. At that time, we used to hear slogans—‘One Bengali letter, one Bengali life.’ What a wonderful slogan! That is why we wanted to become Bengalis with all our heart. However, due to apolitical politics, in the post-1975 period, we are now desperate to avoid Bengaliness.
What can’t politics do? The Bengalis who loved to wear Punjabi, pajamas, sarees, lungis and dhoti, now do not like sarees. Dhoti is gone. Lungis are also half-baked. Clothes from other countries have been suppressed. The same is true of language. The language for which our elders gave their lives and blood, is no longer in the youth.
Torture and rape of the neglected Bengali language are now a daily occurrence. It is impossible for any individual or organized group of people to remedy this. Only politics can remedy this. It has the solution, the proof of which is the pure and pure past of Bengalis.
Society building is far from over, now it is urgent to start construction work. It must be remembered that once only talented students used to do politics. That is why the country and society were able to stay ahead in the battle of talent. There is no need to go far. When Dhaka University was called the Oxford of the East, all the best politicians of the country were born from this university.
All the talented student leaders were born, without whose strong role the independence of this country would not have been possible. The country's transition in difficult times would not have been possible.
Whenever we talk about building a society, we have to say that society is now in shambles. I visited Chittagong a few months ago. People's lives are becoming difficult for various reasons. It would be wrong to say only about the price of goods, politics is also tarnishing development.
The future of the country is being questioned. In a society that is stagnant, in a society where freedom of speech is facing questions, there is only one way to overcome it - the return of politics with the participation of the people. Politics changes, politics remains active depending on the reality of society, country and the world. India is moving forward because it remains active.
European countries are in a strong and secure position. In the country we live in, Australia, politics means something different. There is no such thing as a strike, blockade or movement here. The youth power is also averse to politics. But they are country-oriented. They know the 'ins and outs' of the country. We have to vote here. Otherwise, we have to pay a fine. And we vote by ticking a pencil. No one can erase the tick mark on the pencil. This certainty is called democracy.
The main role of politics in building society is to let people speak. To give importance to fair, worthy and appropriate words. To let people live a normal life and move forward is called construction. Don't you think construction is important before starting that work? I think so.
Author: Australian expatriate columnist
