Virtual Bangladesh : Commentary

Terrorism, Muslims and Bangladesh - Mahmud Zaman

I am a member of the post-liberation war generation. It is true that I missed the opportunity to participate in the freedom fight, but I am proud to be who I am; because my generation never took part in the killing of our presidents, never consorted with the terrorists and religious psychopaths and never involved themselves in the persecution of the innocent men, women and children. But in my great despair, I am watching how fast my generation is losing its innocence.

The terrorists attack in New York has affected some of us but it will affect all of us in time. The way we live and conduct our daily life will also alter as a result. What happened in the US is not a separate incident if we look at what happened in Ramna Botomul or other places in Bangladesh. These terrorists are relentless and they will not stop until they cause mass destruction and human suffering. We had a glimpse of their true self during our liberation war. But our question is who are these terrorists?

During our liberation war Bangladeshi freedom fighters were labeled as terrorists by the Pakistani army. Two hundred years ago Americans were called terrorists by the British government. Therefore, the definition of "terrorism" is subject to much wider interpretations. But we can definitely say one thing that this is not the kind of terrorism our liberation fighters fought in 1971; rather this is the evil side of terrorism. These terrorists are not working for a greater good; they don’t even have any objective. Only objective these terrorists group have is to destroy civilization. The so-called religious leaders are using distorted interpretation of the religion to convince young people to strap themselves with dynamites and blew themselves in the middle of a crowded place. By killing some innocent people they think they are fulfilling God’s order. This is becoming the number one threat to the world civilization. However, by killing Osama Bin Laden or bombing in Afghanistan, we would not be able to solve the problem.

I read a comment of an Afghan lady in the newspaper few days ago. It goes something like this "… My children and me had suffered all our life. Their future is already destroyed and now you are going to bomb us!" She was not mad or frustrated; she was just sad. It’s like she gave up her hope long time ago. It kind of reminded me the poor people of Bangladesh. Some journalists in the U.S. media are saying that destruction of the infrastructure of Afghanistan is the only solution. They think this will incite people to overthrow the government. If that is the case then we would have overthrown our corrupt government long time ago and brought peace and prosperity to the country. Obviously that’s not the case. Most people are brought up in such an inhuman condition that they don’t even know that they are oppressed. These people are not even aware of their own potential; they don’t know how it feels like to be human! They are like any other creature in the wild – living day by day, don’t know what is waiting for tomorrow. I bet many people in Bangladesh don’t even know the name of their president! They don’t care what kind of terrorist activity their government involves in, nor they think about their corruption. They accepted their fate as it is.

I have been reading in the newspaper that people are condemning the terrorist attacks in the United States. However, some of them did not sound so mournful, and had a rather cynical observation about the whole situation. In their sarcastic way of feeling sorry, they were trying to suggest how U.S. somehow deserve this kind of punishment because of it’s wrong and unfair foreign policy towards Arabs and Muslims. It seems like people lose focus very easily. We have to understand that this an act of evil and there is no justification for that. When I looked at the profile of the terrorists, I was amazed to see that none of them looked like poor and desperate. They lived a good life in the U.S., went to flying school. One person was even arrested twice for drunk driving and two of them went to a nightclub the day before the act. Do people really think that these terrorists were acting to fulfill God’s mission? To me, they were just bloodthirsty psychopaths; like any other serial killer, who feel rush, excitement and jubilant watching thousands of dead people. If "eye for an eye" (in this case "Killing for an Killing") is the true teaching of Islam then why our mollas did not give any fatwa of killing innocent Pakistanis after the liberation war (in retaliation of the killing of the three millions Bangladeshi)? God Almighty in His Holy book of Quran gives us the true definition of an honorable Muslim (one who submits to the will of God or to have peace with God): "The believers are: Those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace. In the privacy of the night, they meditate on their Lord, and fall prostrate. And they say, "Our Lord, spare us the agony of Hell; its retribution is horrendous. When they give, they are neither extravagant nor stingy; they give in moderation. They never implore beside God any other god, nor do they kill anyone - for God has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. Nor do they commit adultery. Those who commit these offenses will have to pay. They do not bear false witness. When they encounter vain talk, they ignore it. When reminded of their Lord's SIGNS, they never react to them as if they were deaf and blind. And they say, "Our Lord, let our spouses and children be a source of joy for us, and keep us in the forefront of the righteous." Quran: Sura 25

So how this religion of peace became so hostile against others? I don’t know the answer. But I do know what the Talebans are doing in Afghanistan in the name of religion. They are killing innocent men, women and children. Few years ago an western aid worker was raped and her coworker was skinned to death! I do not understand what was going on in their mind when they were committing those heinous crimes. So why terrorism?

Terrorism may be the result of our collective ignorance, and arrogance. Constant exposures of violence and death all around us desensitized our conscious. Corruption became part of our life. But how far we can go? Our egotistic life-style is catching up with us. Now we are paying it back with our life, and with the life of our future generation. Everybody in this world grasp the fact that the Israelis are committing heinous crimes against Palestinians and many people have sympathy for the Palestinian freedom fighters. But very few people seems to understand that in the process of defending their rights many of these fighters crossed the line between good and evil. They crossed the line when they have decided to kill innocent children in the name of God and revenge. God already condemned the people who follow teaching of others without using their own reasoning: "And they shall say: O our Lord! surely we obeyed our leaders and our great men, so they led us astray from the path;" (Quran 33:67)

"Or do you think that most of them do hear or use their reasoning? They are nothing but as cattle; nay, they are straying farther off from the path." (Quran 25:44)

I wonder why the words of God that gives me comfort and fills my heart with tranquility and peace, enrage some people with hatred and anger towards humanity? May be their heart is sealed with years of wrong teachings and mental persecution. As God says: "Did they not roam the earth, then use their hearts to understand, and use their ears to hear? Indeed, the real blindness is not the blindness of the eyes, but the blindness of the hearts inside the chest." (Quran 22:46) And we can only pray to God to heal them form their blindness.

As far as the religious leaders concern we can only pray that the people will soon see their ugly faces under the mask and abandoned them; " Have you been harsh and mean-hearted? They have abandoned you." (Quran 3:159) as God says to the prophets.

Some of us like to criticize the Israelis and the Jews for spreading propaganda against Muslims. We also hate them because they control the media and hold some high rank posts in the Government. May be this is the time we need to look at this with a separate pair of glasses. No matter what is their intention, the Jewish people have very strong community sense. They can raise millions of dollar in a single day in a single fund raising act. I know some rich Arab sheiks and the Sultan of Brunei own some very expensive properties and hotels in Hollywood. But they don’t own any production company or news media. Who’s fault it is? Certainly the Muslims have the financial strength, but not the willingness. I have seen very few Muslims in this country have taken any initiative to be involve in politics. Only thing they can think of is making money, living a comfortable life, and accusing other Americans (the early settlers) for the misfortune of their parents and relatives back home. May be this is the time we need to point fingers towards us.

I have to admit that I have met many good hearted and decent people in this country and many of them are even willing to give their money and time to help the destitute people of my country. Extreme wealth, prosperity and power did not completely make them blind, as some people like to perceive them. We must not forget that every time we encountered any natural disaster, U.S. was always by our side.

Cordially,
Mahmud Zaman

"Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they Trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;- (Here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise." The Holy Qur'an (2:164)
Mahmud Zaman

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