The desire to change the current government is one thing, but will the incoming government provide any concrete guarantee of security, equal opportunities, economic and educational progress, and welfare for Muslims?
Today, it seems that change is about to happen, that the government is going to change in 2029. But have Muslims thought about how safe they will be under the new government? Will anything change for them?
If Muslims are currently facing problems such as mob lynching, forced bulldozer actions, hate speeches and acts of hatred, accusations of being Bangladeshis, and allegations of being anti-national, history also shows that under previous secular governments, Muslims struggled with accusations of being terrorists, allegations of being Pakistanis, anti-Muslim riots, centuries of imprisonment under terrorism charges, false cases, and other such hardships.
Muslims are so eager to see the current government change, but have they prepared any plan or strategy, or reached any agreement or understanding with the parties that may come to power, regarding what the position of Muslims will be under their government? How safe will they be?
Even if we assume that all forms of hatred directed against them, hate speeches and actions, the forced demolition of their homes, shops, and mosques by bulldozers, mob lynching, and accusations of being anti-national or Bangladeshi will come to an end as soon as the government changes, what guarantee is there that atrocities and oppression such as anti-Muslim riots, bomb blasts in mosques and dargahs, accusations of bombings and terrorism, the imprisonment of talented and educated Muslim youth for centuries under such charges, and allegations of being Pakistani will not happen again?
What guarantee is there that the same thing will not happen again, as it did under previous secular governments, which did remarkable work to uplift oppressed and backward communities but secretly and conspiratorially attempted to push Muslims even further below those oppressed and backward communities, as is evident from the data and recommendations of the Sachar Committee, Ranganath Misra Commission, Kundu Committee, and Gopal Singh Committee?
These commissions were established specifically for the welfare of Muslims and to help them progress in every field. However, their own advice and recommendations were never implemented. Will the incoming secular government implement them?
Will there be no further attempts to push Muslims behind and below even the oppressed and backward communities? Will remarkable efforts be made for the progress, betterment, and welfare of Muslims?
Without receiving assurances about all these things, how can Muslims even wish for a change in the current government? Because only the pattern of oppression and injustice against them has changed. The objective and its intensity remain the same.
Have Muslim leaders and the Muslim leadership even presented the above demands to the secular parties that may form the next government? Will they do so, or will everything remain nothing more than empty talk?
One great mistake Muslims made in the past was that campaigns and struggles were carried out solely to end British rule. However, no assurances were obtained, nor were any measures taken, regarding how safely and peacefully Muslims would live under the government that would be formed, how many free opportunities they would have to progress like other communities, and how government measures to help them advance would be implemented with honesty and responsibility. Muslims are suffering the consequences of that mistake today. Are Muslims and their leadership going to repeat the same mistake again?
Look, one thing is certain: everything does not change so quickly. Just as the people of the country believed that after the government changed in 2014, good days would come, black money would be brought back, fifteen lakh rupees would be deposited into everyone’s bank account, corruption would end, inflation would decrease, crime would decline, and so on. But to this day, none of these things has happened.
Yes, the agendas hidden behind those promises have certainly been fulfilled, such as promoting hatred, portraying Muslims as enemies and outsiders, demolishing mosques, concentrating the country’s resources and wealth in the hands of just a few people, and completely diminishing the values of democracy and freedom.
And if a new government comes to power, there will certainly be some agendas hidden behind its promises as well. Surely, these will include strengthening democracy, promoting freedom of expression, secularism, and so on. But will they also secretly include weakening Muslims economically, educationally, and socially? Will they include efforts to uplift other oppressed and backward communities while pushing Muslims down in their place?
These are concerns, and they have also been demonstrated by previous governments. In fact, the reports and data of their own committees provide evidence of this.
Anyway, these questions and concerns arise only if the government is actually going to change, as it appears today. But there are still a little more than two years left, and nothing can be said about what will happen during this period or how the situation will change. Because one thing is certain: the current government will not accept defeat so easily.
The previous government had become slow, sluggish, and arrogant. Moreover, it still had to show some regard for democracy, freedom of expression, and secularism. That is why it accepted the sentiments and decisions of the people and did not attempt to change or overturn them.
But we all know that this is not going to happen under the current government. If change does take place, it will only come through great struggle, effort, and revolution.
But the same question remains: Is the only objective of Muslims to change the current government? Or should they also take steps to secure assurances of their safety, prosperity, betterment, and progress under the incoming government?
If the only objective remains to change the current government, then the government may indeed change through the will and efforts of the majority communities, but there will be no change or reduction in the conditions, worries, and difficulties faced by Muslims.
Because Muslims themselves will have to do this work.
What is unfortunate is that, so far, no progress by Muslims in this regard is visible.
