you should write a piece on shahbag because your writing will be original and amazing! xx
Hey, thanks for your message. I actually really appreciate the support and enthusiasm. But to be completely honest with you, I’m not sure if I could write about Shahbag. There are a few reasons, I’ll explain. First of all, the politics of it all hardly renders it as a poetic topic of any sort. Although I do sometimes meddle into the topic, I generally try to stay away from the nature of politics. I consider it to be dirtier than than dirtiest porn out there, etc.
Also, I can’t write about Shahbag because I’m not in tune with the energy. Although I’m very passionate on the subject, my western upbringing still inclines me to side with the fact that the death penalty is wrong. Yes, these people have committed grave crimes against the people of our nation, but still, a life is a life and there should be other means to rectify or deliver justice. And that’s where another problem arises entirely. Justice, honour, liberty, government. All these are skewed and the perceptions of the people are as corrupt as the politicians. In a country housing approximately 190M people in an area smaller than California, Bangladesh is more damaged than an average suicidal teenager who fancies nothing more than cutting and listening to goth rock. Yeah, the country is in even worse shape than that.
The idea is fine. That’s the thing I admire. The spirit, the passion, the comradery amongst the people. The coming together of the nation to advocate for a singular cause. But this cause isn’t necessarily the one they should be fighting for. It’s an awakening for the people because something like this has been long since needed but I believe they are wasting time advocating for the wrong thing. They should be seeking better government and policy, improved infrastructure for the country and a new outlook on the way in which the country should be run. Because politics in Bangladesh is a joke. And a very bad one at that.
Lastly, the reason I couldn’t write about Shahbag even if I wanted to is because I don’t think I can channel that energy without actually being there myself. It’s something that means a lot to a lot of people and as such I don’t think I feel as strongly or as passionately while being so far away.
Although, with all this being said, the recent murder of that blogger (Rajib) was tragic and I expect things to escalate a lot further after that incident.
I hope for the best for Bangladesh. The people are just waking up now, stretching and rubbing the dust out of their eyes. But the dawn of the new day for Bangladesh has but only begun. Many more obstacles lie ahead.
Again, thank you for your encouragement, and I apologize if my response may have disappointed you in any way.
