“Your letters are shining the light on the path ahead. Please do not take this light away.” – from your second letter.
It is my pleasure to participate in shining the light on your path with this letter. I will try to make my letter short and precise –instead of long and elaborate- because of your busy schedule and because –given your intelligence- I am sure that you will see the “big” meaning behind a short precise message. I will start with mentioning about what I liked about you and your party, followed by what I did not like, and finally few suggestions.
What I liked
Allah as source of Honour
“To them, I only have to say that only Allah can give us respect. If one wants respect, that person should earn it himself or herself.”
This is what you said to us in your second letter. Your firm believe in the help of Allah and your firm assurance that HE is the source of respect reflects your faith in Allah. The mass population of the simple-minded men and women of Bangladeshi villagers love –as I do- those who portrait their belief in Allah and practice it, and make it apparent in his or her speeches and actions. You must continue to use Islamic tones if you want a constant support from the simple-minded Islam-loving Bangladeshis.
Power of Words
“Animal Farm” of George Orwell shows the effect of colourful banners and slogans in the mindset of the mass population. I must admit that you are very skilful in coining such banners. “We Can”, “March ahead, Bangladesh”, “poverty in the Museum”, all these words stay in the mind, and with repeated echoing makes Yunus and his politics fresh in the mind all the time.
Good from the West
You are a product of West. You are applying many principles in Bangladesh Politics which made the West successful. Organization, planning based on vision, punctuality, simplicity, etc all these qualities make people love you and have trust in you. Most of those who practice politics in Bangladesh today will not understand intellectual talks or technocrat’s input, because of their lack of education at one end and the lack of good intention at the other end.
“Shakti” in Politics
History proves that any political agenda cannot march forward without a “shakti”. Alexander, Napoleon, Caliph Omar, Hitler, etc all these political leaders had “Shakti” to back them.
What I did not Like
“Secularism” in Islamic Bangladesh
I am afraid if those simple-minded Islam-Loving villagers of Bangladesh know the ugly face of “Secularism” they –for sure- would reject you and act as a “Shakti” against you. Secularism historically was a religion, which men of Europe needed to create in order to get out of the oppression of Kings and Clergymen of Christian Middle-Age Europe. Islam, Prophet Muhammad and Quran were never been oppressing to the Muslim population and the intellects, as Christianity, altered Bible and Clergymen were oppressing the mass population of Europe, especially the intellects and scientists. “Secular” state was never been in neutral with practicing religion. If Islam carries complete code of practice, ethics and rulings to govern a state, then will you and your “Shakti” be willing to stay under the Umbrella of Islam? You cannot brainwash the simple minds of Islam loving Bangladeshis by allowing Islam to be practiced only at personal level (marriage and divorce, slaughtering beasts, etc.), and attempt to put the real “Shakti” of Islam (i.e., rulings to govern a state and society) in the museum along with poverty. This short letter does not allow elaborating more on this, but I am confident you got the elaborate message which I wanted to convey.
Dilemma of “Working Women”
Anyone knows you, knows your love to bring women out of their home. I will not stop at the traditional message you have always been getting that “It is anit-Islamic”, but rather make a short attempt to discuss it logically, because any ideology of Islam never contradicts a “healthy” –and only healthy- logic and intellect. God created two sexes and equipped each with specialized needs to perform specialized jobs. It would be unfair to ask an Ostrich to fly given it has two wings, or to ask a cow to carry the same weight as an Ox does, given they are the same species. Again, equality and empowerment of women –as the west sees it today- came with historical clash with deviated Christianity which considers Eve to be the source of original sin, and the Greek mythology supports that with it’s own version of Pandora’s legend. The Masculine sexy mind of today’s West hits two birds with one stone, when they declare compliance with the religion of Secularism and at the same time satisfy their sexy lusts when finding opportunity in extra-marital practice with counter work-mates. What you are visioning for Bangladesh has already been visioned and implemented in the West after World War II, and the results on the ground is very evident in Europe today. Please do a ground survey in the western society and talk with working mother and working women groups and listen to their agony and pain. Given your experience with the West, if you do not know their pain, then that is a great ignorance from your side, but if you already knew their pain, then it would be a great crime to attempt installing the same pain in the already painful Bangladesh.
My Suggestions
Islam as your and our “Shakti”
Islam was spread with the “Shakti” of its unique ideology, which opened the hearts of Millions before it opened their land. Bangladeshis embraced Islam a thousand year back and enjoyed the real liberation where their heart been liberated from worshipping weak status, stones and men to worshipping the Almighty Allah who created the Earth and Heaven and has Ultimate power and knowledge. When the Muslims allowed Islam in the “Driving Seat”, Islam drove them along the path of ethics, science, moral and development and Islamic Civilization was governing the world for centuries. When Muslims sacked the driving Islam out of the “Seat” or out of the “Bus”, then we became like a blind mad man being a subject of play and amusement by a bunch of notorious kids. My understanding is that you do not mind to keep “personal” Islam in the Bus, but will resist with all the “Shakti” you have, if this skilful driver wants to occupy the “driving seat”.
Your main “Shakti” is the “Shakti” you get from the west and India. I do not think you consider “Islam” as a “Shakti” that you feel proud of; otherwise, you will never consider secularism. If this is a fact, then throwing words like “"March ahead, Bangladesh." The merciful Allah will help us.” Or “only Allah can give us respect” are used for media consumption only.
I will be asking you too much to install Islam in the driving seat of Bangladesh. It is so, because you have gained –what you have gained- through a process and a system, which sides Islam to the peripheral, and you have reached a point where you cannot turn 180 degree and talk about a “governing” Islam. If you do so, then your powerful friends of today will become your deadly enemies of tomorrow. Nevertheless, if you do so, you will gain an “unseen” friend who has a “Shakti” that exceeds not only the “Shakti” of “Nagoriks” of Bangladesh but also the whole population of Earth.
If you are serious about the 180-degree turn, then I will be serious in talking about the phases and methods of implementing the steps towards the “Islamic Shakti”. I believe you have all the talents of being a good leader, and I believe Bangladesh must get out of this infinite loop of “two-party” dynasty-politics in the guise of democracy.
AbdulBaqi
March 4, 2007
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Do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. [Quran aal-Imran (3):139]
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