For the past week, no member of my family or I have stepped outside. The kitchen supplies are depleted. We boil rice with salt and have it late in the afternoon so that we don't feel hungry at night. Then we keep watch through the night. Initially, the men kept watch. Now I’ve also joined. 'And your kids?' My daughter is in your country, Siliguri. She cries on the phone, but we are relieved. Independent though she may be, she’s alive.
The political turmoil in Bangladesh hasn't just affected Parliament; it has torched common households. Hindus, a minority, are soft targets. Homes and shops are set on fire. Temples are demolished. Large mobs attack areas with Hindu populations. Reports suggest 27 such districts where minorities face these horrors. But the worst affected are the women.
Mausumi says, 'The land we cherished their treating us like domestic goods, stealing everything. In Noakhali, where my parental home is, girls have disappeared from many homes post-loot.
'Student protests began, which hinted at impending chaos. I left my village home to live in a rented place in the city. My landlord is also Hindu. They generously brought groceries and medicine. They advised my husband to stock up, as the atmosphere was changing. We ignored the warning. Now, these same people give us rice. We boil it with salt and eat once a day. Drinking water supply has stopped. We strain or boil water to drink.
Source: aajtak
When did you realize the situation was worsening? For a week now, there was fear. Distant minor skirmishes and looting began, but that’s routine here. Just as the Buri Ganga River changes its course, Dhaka’s heart does too. We stayed tolerant. Three days ago, I received a call that my father’s pharmacy had been looted and burned. He was on the phone, crying. He said this is his punishment for loving his country. He repeatedly urged us to escape while we could.
My father was very honest, never overcharging. His pharmacy was in a Muslim neighborhood. Even at midnight, he would open for those in need. Now, neither his shop nor his strength remains. I can't even go to console him. Now, he doesn’t even talk on the phone.
Many households tell the same story. Homes marked for looting. My relative's house was set on fire. They had many cows and calves. The rioters took them. Along with belongings, girls are also being abducted. Families are in agony but are helpless in reporting it. Everything belongs them, even the police. If a girl is gone, who knows if she'll return when they tire of her.
Source: aajtak
Have you personally witnessed similar incidents? After a long pause, she replies, 'They monitor our mobiles. I can’t reveal much. Just understand, my heart is breaking. I was once a lawyer but dressed in a burqa over my sari while attending court. After a year, no one brought me any cases. Potential clients would glance at my table and walk away. Then I joined a company. This was when things were slightly better. Even if we survive, we might never work again. In a few years, stories of doctors and lawyers cooking all day might come from here too.
Our conversation continued for hours, helped by an online translator. Periodically, she would pause and then return with an apology, explaining that it was her turn to keep watch or aid those keeping guard.
From her side, many videos and pictures kept coming – horrifying scenes of bloodied corpses, burning homes, and people crying and screaming. Burned prayer books. One picture stood out. She explained, 'These are people from Panchagarh, trying to reach the Indian border. There are about 2,000 people.'
Everyone wants to go to India.... so do I if given a chance. A hesitant voice says, 'My daughter is studying in Siliguri. We went to your place for her admission. For the first time, I wondered why our ancestors didn’t settle there. A painful regret... she writes incomplete sentences in Bengali.
Tell me about your daughter? I can’t say much. She’s studying. She was supposed to come home a few days ago. We told her to wait for the upcoming festival. Now, it feels like we might never meet again.
Source: aajtak
There are reports that Muslim neighbors are protecting Hindus! This is a facade. Some Muslim groups stand with rods and swords in front of temples, take pictures, and then leave. Why isn't protection available when homes are attacked? Why isn’t anyone saving us when Hindus are being slashed on the streets? Yes, some ordinary Muslims worry about the future of their country. They are afraid Bangladesh might turn into another Pakistan or Afghanistan. Many people with good intentions are unable to help out of fear of being targeted themselves.
We alternate watch duty at night. Men stand outside in the alleys, while women guard the houses. Electricity cuts last the entire day. We rely on torches and lamps at night. Last night, a mob of 50 came to break our local temple. We had more people and chased them away. But how long can this continue? That’s unknown.
Our last chat ended with her saying, 'If I perish here, can you ensure my daughter's safety...!'
