FUNDAMENTALISM PORTENDS TO DRAG BANGLADESH DOWN

Events during the last few months have created doubts about the future of Bangladesh

- Shashi Shekhar

Today, Bangladesh is celebrating the 53rd anniversary of its liberation—a day I still remember vividly. I was then a student at the government inter-college, Prayagraj (then Allahabad). That day, just before the morning assembly dispersed, Mr. Khanwalkar, the principal, held us back for a special address. Everyone waited with heightened anticipation.

When he spoke, he was beaming; tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice choked with emotion. He said the Indian army had forced close to a lakh of Pakistani soldiers to surrender in Dhaka. We had won the war, and Bangladesh was liberated. His words electrified the atmosphere. We rushed out of the college despite teachers' admonition and kept cheering on the streets for hours on end.

In January 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman arrived in India after his release from a prison in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. On 10 January 1972, he addressed his nation live on All India Radio. I am not sure how many understood his speech in Bengali, but people were riveted by the emotions his voice exuded. People were filled with joy believing that from now on India and Bangladesh would work together.