Ramadan, Iftar, Eid: A prayer for peace and stability

The holy month of Ramadan is coming to an end with the Eid festival knocking at the door. It is the most jovial occasion for the Muslim Ummah as they celebrate it after fasting for long one month. Muslims believe, it is the month for Creator Allah to pardon all our sins and to shower His mercy and blessings on the believers.
Iftar is an important ritual in Ramadan. Breaking fast with juice, dates and some food items marks the Iftar. People like to take it in groups. It may take place at the family- or social-level. Iftar parties are held during the whole month of Ramadan. These parties are held in every Muslim country. It is also found to be held in many non-Muslim countries. President Barack Obama was found to host Iftar parties in the White House almost every week. It has been held in many other non-Muslim countries. In India, President Pranab Mukherjee and Congress president Sonia Gandhi hosted Iftar parties in New Delhi a few days ago. Sonia invited many leaders to that party. Most of them were non-Muslim leaders and high-ups of different political parties. The Congress leaders were, of course, there. Press reports suggest that Sonia Gandhi had an intention to rally round the leaders opposing the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi through this Iftar party.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not host any Iftar party this year nor did he attend the Iftar party hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee. But Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former BJP prime minister, used to hold such parties during his tenure. Congress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh used to organise it. Naturally, political agenda works in organising such Iftar parties in non-Muslim countries like the USA and India. Primarily, the intention is to win over the Muslim sentiments.
In Bangladesh, too, Iftar parties were organised by political parties during the month of Holy Ramadan. It was a get-together of various classes of the people-politicians, professionals, members of the civil society and political workers. It is a very good occasion for developing fellow feelings, friendship and brotherhood. Participants sink their differences and pray to Allah for unity and salvation.
There are two major political parties in Bangladesh -- the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). These are major political parties as they bag largest votes in any election and there is a neck-to-neck fight between these two parties. The main leaders of both the parties, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, came to power and each of them became prime minister for three terms. The two popular leaders host Iftar parties every year. They invite each other to join the parties hosted by them for political leaders. The press widely covered such invitations. At the end, everybody sees that neither of the leaders attends the Iftar party hosted by her political rival. It is found that they criticise each other in such parties. This year, opposition leader and ex-prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia was found to criticise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling party on many grounds. The Prime Minister was also on record as having said that Begum Khaleda Zia has been telling lies in this month of holy Ramadan. She also announced her government's decision to form a special tribunal for trial of Begum Khaleda Zia. So, the Iftar parties could not pave the way for reconciliation and compromise.
Another good opportunity lies on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr. We see that there has been exchange of Eid greetings through cards. But this is merely a paper work. None of them will meet or talk to her rival. The message of Eid is shunning of differences. It is the day of establishing fraternity, brotherhood and friendship. The opportunity will certainly be lost this year as it was earlier.
Political stability in the country is the crying need of the hour. Political unrest in the past had severely affected the Bangladesh economy and society. The nation is now sharply divided. Democracy means participation of the people and their will truly reflected in the governance of a country. It implies patience, compromise and consensus. Universal human rights, including universal franchise, are treated as features of a democratic society.
The teachings of the holy Ramadan are patience, utmost restraint, calmness and compromise. These are absolutely necessary in the socio-political life of Bangladesh. Iftar party aims at creating fellow feelings and brotherhood. The message of Eid festival is also to establish fraternity, friendship, brotherhood and shunning of differences. In a divided society that is in today's Bangladesh, all concerned should honour and practise virtues and teachings of holy Ramadan. The teachings are more important in a society where it is divided, human rights are violated, democratic norms are lacking, corruption is rampant and people feel insecure. In the political arena, we badly need peace, consensus, compromise, fraternity and people's voice. These urges of the people should not be limited to mere Iftar party speeches and Eid messages. These should be translated into reality. Let the teachings of holy Ramadan, Iftar parties and Eid festival bring peace, stability and fraternity in the Bangladesh society.

he writer is an economist and columnist.
 chowdhuryjafar@gmail.com