The Madness Continues…

Syeda Sabita Amin

Here I am sitting at home yet another day due to the fact that that an "Oborodh" is going on. Classes have been put on halt and work is just piling up because I can't get out to complete them.

As a Law student, I may have not taken the course on the Constitution of Bangladesh YET, but I am aware of its contents. It's funny what political leaders in our country put the country along with us through in the name of 'democracy.' What is democracy? Fundamentally it means 'of the people, by the people and for the people'. It is the practice of the principle of equality of rights, opportunities, and treatment.

I believe I am an adult and fall into the category under 'people', after all I bear the blood of a Bangladeshi. It's amusing to know that the very people, who are fighting for a so called democracy, are taking the same rights which I was born with away from me. I am being denied the right of freedom of movement, the right to education and the right to protection. I could of course go out on the streets but is it safe? Could my parents be worry free that their daughter is working when there is political unrest going on about the streets? Classes aren't going on but I'm supposed to complete the courses for the semester and sit for the final examinations next month and pass so if I go and sit on the steps of my university where the gates are locked, will knowledge just come showering down upon me? It doesn't work like that…

I am not the only one who is being denied of these rights. Men, women, adolescents and children are all suffering. People cannot go to work; children cannot go to schools… Many of our rights are being taken away. Yes, it is because we are practicing freedom of speech but honestly like this? Elections take place in all democratic countries but do they all go through this? Indeed there are nations which are war-stricken but why do we have to follow their example? If we are all up for freedom of speech I want my voice to be heard as well, but certainly not in the manner which I am witnessing.

A lot of people complain that students have one foot ready to go abroad to study and they wonder why. Well why shouldn't they? Financial issues aren't the only thing that stands in the way, but it's all of this as well.

I continue sitting here with tears in my eyes wondering when will it all be ok? When will our lives continue the path which it was on? I am tired of walking into the future which will continue all of this. Every time there's a difference of opinion the country goes into chaos. How much longer do we have to tolerate all this… I am just one single person here begging for it all to end, but I know I am not alone. There must be a better solution out here… Violence and strikes cannot be the only way to have our voices heard and disputes settled.