The government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina has rightfully taken a lead in the United Nations to inculcate a mindset of tolerance and respect for others irrespective of colour, ethnicity, religion or background as it believes that all violence, misunderstanding, war and terror emanate from a mindset of intolerance and hatred. Therefore, with a view to ensuring sustainable peace and stability, Bangladesh is promoting a 'culture of peace' (CoP) across nations. However, it is time to spread this message of CoP at home also. The Jalalabad Association, the organisation of the people of greater Sylhet or Jalalabad, the spiritual capital of South-Asia, may take special initiative to end ignorance and hatred. Â
However, a mindset of 'culture of peace' cannot be inculcated alone by government or one organisation. To inculcate a mindset of tolerance and respect for others irrespective of religion or faith, it needs proactive initiatives from all sections of society - teachers, parents, schools, community leaders, the leaders of civil society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), youths and political organisations and more importantly, from the members of the media. It is time to take initiatives to build this nation as a model of peace and harmony where terrorism, fanaticism and intolerance could be a thing of the past.
END OF COLD WAR AND RISE OF JIHADIS: When the Cold War against communism was over, the Berlin Wall came down and the USSR was divided into 19 independent states, powerful quarters developed a new strategy of creating mistrust, enmity and hatred amongst religious and ethnic groups to perpetuate domination and to maintain their war machines. No wonder, while global leadership finds it difficult to arrange only $2.0 billion for the UNICEF to have 'education for all', they easily manage over $1,747 billion for defence expenditure in 2013 alone that instead of guaranteeing safety and security rather erodes it. These funding and additional weapons may have helped in the formation of armed and Jihadi groups in select regions that were unknown and mysteriously remain untouchable until now. People don't know their sources of financing nor their sources of supply of weapons. Neither they know who imparts them military and precision training. Â
Therefore, Senator Rand Paul, a Republican hopeful of US Presidency, opined that Islamic State or terrorism could end if defence expenditure is reduced. No wonder, people of reasons like Dr. Kevin Barrett, editor of the Veterans Today, are questioning jihadi terrorism as 'false flag massacre' and they are finding inconsistencies in police and media reporting more so as most of the jihadis are killed before they face judicial processes. Whatever it may be, challenges are enormous and daunting, and to stop recurrence of such massacres, concerted efforts are indeed needed. Once Robert F. Kennedy stated: if you fight for a just cause, it will create a ripple and another will join and then another and then another, and such will create so much force that the houses of the mightiest of the tyrants will collapse. Therefore, don't be frustrated, keep your hopes alive. Â
A LAND OF VISION, INITIATIVES AND LEADERSHIP: Once Bengal was known as a leader of vision, ideas and initiatives. Even during the British Raj, it is the Bengali leadership that spearheaded the Lahore Resolution in 1940 that culminated in the creation of Pakistan. The brain behind the political parties that achieved independence of India like the All-India Congress and the All India Muslim League Party had their strength in Bengal and in fact, Muslim League was founded in Dhaka in 1906. Therefore, once Professor Gopal Krishna Gokhale, president of Indian National Congress stated 'what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow'. Such views were repeated time and again by other luminaries including Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India and the first woman governor of any Indian state. It is the Bengali leadership like Raja Ram Mohan Roy who spearheaded a successful movement to end Shothi Daho -- burning of wife along with her dead husband. Â
It is our great leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who created a sovereign nation of Bangladesh from the clutches of subjugation, exploitation, deprivation, and indignity perpetuated by its West Pakistan partner for a long 25 years of difficult marriage and he proclaimed a policy of 'friendship to all, malice to none' that works. It is he who dreamt of a Sonar Bangla -- a golden Bengal -- a prosperous, democratic, harmonious, happy, and a peaceful land where no one would be discriminated. And thus he enhanced the spirit, the aspirations and the confidence of Bangali nationhood. His daughter, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, by courageously deciding to build the mega-project of the Padma bridge by our own resources at a time when the World Bank was unnecessarily trying to put blames on Bangladeshi people, once again raised the confidence and pride of Bangladeshi people that they richly deserve. It is Bangladesh that led the world to declare International Mother Language Day in order to protect, preserve and promote the native languages of the planet earth. Jalalabad should take pride as its leader Abdul Hamid had the courage and conviction to deliver his speech in Bangla in the Assam Assembly as early as 1927 amidst opposition and the Sylhet Muslim Shahithyo Sangshad had the vision to organise a Conference on Bangla with a view to pursuing the recognition of Bangla as a State Language as early as September of 1947. Â
It is Bangladesh that led the world in the area of autism and other disabilities and in enhancing people's empowerment, both men and women. It is Sheikh Hasina's leadership that demanded a 'pro-people, pro-planet, more inclusive, more equitable, more peaceful and sustainable world for all - where no one is left behind' has amply been reflected in the recently adopted historic UN resolution entitled '2030 Transformative Development Agenda' or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Now these 17 SDGs and 169 targets will lead the global discourse for next 15/20 years.
Therefore, if Bangladesh and its people, especially its leadership, take the lead to create a world of harmony, peace and stability free from ignorance, intolerance, enmity and hatred, it is sure they will achieve their goals, if not today, may be tomorrow. Let all of us work together to this end to establish Bangladesh not only as a 'model of economic development' but also as 'a land of enlightened people of peace, stability and harmony'.
Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, Emeritus Professor of Economics and Business, is a former Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN. abdul_momen@hotmail.com
Promoting \'culture of peace\' at home and worldwide
A. K. Abdul Momen | Published: December 19, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
Share if you like