At a time when the closely held motto is self preservation for the majority of the people and for a few others to take life indiscriminately, a woman named Fahi Khatun from Godagari, Rajshahi has 'foolishly' given up her life for two children not her own. The story in short is that the 30 year-old woman was purchasing fish by the side of the Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj highway when she saw a speeding 'Bhatbhati' coming from Godagari on its way to Rajshahi. She was alarmed to see two small children crossing the highway right at that moment. She responded to her instinct of saving the two children fearing they might be run over by the crudely constructed vehicle. The children were safe but the driver of the vehicle lost control and hit the woman. She died instantly. The passengers of the bhatbhati too were injured and four to five of them were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College with severe injury.
No, humanity has not totally deserted the nation. When bomb throwers are demonstrating savagery at its most ruthless and political parties are endorsing or even sponsoring such acts, an innocuous woman can still consider it a call of duty to save lives of two children no matter if it is at the risk of her own. To her saving the two lives was the most urgent need. Whether she periled her own life was of little consequence to her. The woman was obviously not inspired by great philosophy of life -all that mattered to her was the feeling for her fellow human beings, particularly children who are yet to be familiar with the way of life in a crude, hostile and treacherous world.
To the bomb throwers and their sponsors, she is not only innocuous but a naïve and foolish woman. This country would be a better place to live in, though, if there had been more like her. She has left a message to the effect that it is always a noble duty to sacrifice one's life in the interest of saving others. During the Liberation War of the country, there were many always ready to give up their lives so that others could survive. When the Rana Plaza collapsed, a man with a golden heart similarly sacrificed his life in trying to rescue a girl. Well, he rescued several others denying him rest, sleep and regular foods but it was a challenge to bring out a girl entrapped in a tight corner. He took the risk, never thinking of his children and family. He died a martyr's death. Another man laid down his life for the cause of humanity in old Dhaka during the time of Pakistan when rioters of his own community swooped on members of another community. He stood firm to save the lives of those people under attack and got killed.
Evidently, the supply of noble souls has not totally dried up in this part of the world. But the way humanity is getting butchered at the hands of politicians and their hired killers, such nobility of soul is likely to be held in high esteem by a handful of people. If these politicians and their henchmen still claim they have human hearts in themselves, they should learn a lesson from the sacrifice made by Fahi Khatun. No details are known about the woman who spontaneously responded to the call of duty no one ever imposed on her. Was she educated enough to know the value of life?
Perhaps education or other attributes matter little in such cases. All that matter is empathy and fellow feeling. People who value life because it is precious cannot help responding to the need of other fellow human beings. The question of wreaking cruelty or savagery on others and even any life form does not arise. In this wide world, all lives are sacrosanct. No one has the right to take it when s/he cannot give it back. Violence and murder have undermined the lofty achievements by the best of creations. It is time to stop and ponder if it is not wise to give up violence, savagery and war on one's own species.
Sacrificing life for others
FE Team | Published: February 14, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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