http://arif5.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://arif5.tigblog.org/post/505739
Five years back, I crossed the Atlantic. My entire family and friends came to see me off. My father, who invested all his life long earning for my education, asked me not to cry. It was an order from Abba. I was never an obedient son. Quite spoiled I must say. But this time I obeyed. As I knew it will be the last for many years to come. I did not cry. I crossed the immigration. The Malaysian Aircraft was waiting for me and for the rest of the passengers. The minute I entered the aircraft I could not feel for few moments. Everything seemed blurry to feel anything. I was breathing. There was only enough air to breath.

And then the moment came…my plane took off from the Zia International Airport….I could not hold my tears. I tried to hold my tears. I tried hard. I closed my eyes…..promised myself. I shall return. I will work for my golden Bengal. I looked at my passport. Green. Golden. Map of Bangladesh. My golden Bengal…forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune, as if it were a flute.

Five years in Canada was one of the most unique experiences of my life. It was everything and even more of what I have dreamt about. Freedom. Liberty. Growth. I have turned into a fusion mixture of the East and West. At home everywhere, out of place nowhere. I was awarded as the student leader of Class of 2007 and International Student of the year 2007 from my academia and have received eight awards and scholarships for my academic performances and co-curricular activities. I was proud of myself. I was more proud because I was able to represent my golden Bengal. I was proud because in one of those awards ceremonies our former Vice Chancellor Dr. Ross Paul told me that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is his hero from 1970s. My golden Bengal… In spring, O mother mine, the fragrance from your mango groves makes me wild with joy, Ah, what a thrill! in autumn, O mother mine, in the full blossomed paddy fields I have seen spread all over sweet smiles.

I was more determined than ever before to return home.

My 56 years old father fought in the liberation war of 1971. He is a war veteran and never took any benefits from the state for his contribution during the glories time of Bengali nation. My old man always taught me to love this country… we sang… Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection, and what a tenderness! What a quilt have you spread at the feet of banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!

Abba called me early this morning. I was reading Obama’s audacity of hope. Abba’s voice was rushed. I could not dare to ask my old man that whether he was crying. He is still the man of the family after all. But I could feel that he was in pain and then he asked me to open bdnews24.com
Today the honorable high court of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has rejected the bail petition of Nethree. My Nethree. Nethree of millions of people in Bangladesh. They have rejected the bail petition of the former Prime Minister, opposition leader, law maker and above all the daughter of the founding father. This court did not feel any qualm to grant bail to war criminals like SAKA Chowdhury and Nizami. There were no signs of hesitations from the honorable high court judges when they granted bail petitions of Tareq Zia, Nasiruddin Pintu, Mir Nasir.
Abba said the inconceivable.

He said he does not love Bangladesh anymore. He said he does not find any difference between Bangladesh and Pakistan. After five years…when I am preparing myself to go back… he again ordered me like 23 August 2003……My son…torn apart that green passport for me. Surrender your citizenship and never return to this country…..

After five years…. I was looking at my green passport again. Golden. Green. Map of Bangladesh. I was trying to feel. I could not feel for few minutes.

Since then I am thinking and now convinced. If Sheikh Hasina had decided to stay in exile and not return in Bangladesh in 1980s… were there any chances for Awami League to reunite and fight for the democracy? Did not she have more reasons to stop loving the country which took away her beloved father, caring mother, adorable brothers and rest of the family? Did not she face the most gruesome grenade attack during BNP-JAMAT rule? Did not this army backed government called her “a threat for national security” and imposed restriction on her from entering Bangladesh? Did not this government sent her into the jail in most cowardly manner and confined her for eleven months without proper medical treatment and in complete isolation? Did she ever stop loving this country? Did she ever consider surrendering her passport? Did she ever give up her hope of golden Bengal?

No. We cannot give up our founder fathers’ dream. The golden Bengal is attainable. And it must be attained. There are more reasons now than ever before to fill rejuvenated and return home and defeat the devils. If anything I have learned from our founder fathers and our Nethree then it is not stop trying to establish golden Bengal….as we are a nation…which believes…. O mother mine, words from your lips, are like nectar to my ears. Ah, what a thrill! If sadness, O mother mine, casts a gloom on your face, my eyes are filled with tears!]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:01:00 EDT http://arif5.tigblog.org/post/505739 42.3333333 -83.033333342.3333333-83.0333333