Neither I nor any member of the family has gone out for the past one week. The kitchen has run out of supplies. We boil rice with salt and eat it late in the afternoon so that we don’t feel hungry at night. Then we keep watch at night. Earlier, men used to stay awake. Now we have also taken turns. ‘And your children?’ My daughter is in your country. In Siliguri. She cries on the phone but we are at peace. Even if she becomes homeless, she will remain alive.
The impact of the political upheaval in Bangladesh is not limited to the Parliament, this fire is also burning ordinary homes. The Hindu minority is a soft target. Homes and shops are being burnt. Temples are being demolished. Mobs are attacking settlements where there is a Hindu population. According to reports, there are 27 such districts where minorities are facing all this. But the worst condition is of women.
Mausami says- We nurtured the land we considered as our homeland, but there we are being looted like household goods. In Noakhali, where my mother’s house is, after the loot, girls also disappeared from many houses.
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Ever since the student protests began, there was a buzz that something was going to happen. I left my village home and live in a rented house in the city. The landlord is also a Hindu. He was bringing loads of kitchen items and medicines. He also told my husband to stock up. The atmosphere is about to change. We ignored it. For the last two days, the same people have been giving us rice. We boil it with salt and eat it once a day. The supply of drinking water has stopped. We are drinking water after filtering or boiling it.
When did you realize that the situation was worsening?
There was fear for the whole week. There were sporadic fights and looting in remote areas but this is routine in our country. Like the river Budhi Ganga, the heart of Dhaka also keeps changing. We remained patient. Three days ago, we got a call that my father’s medicine shop was looted and burnt. Baba himself was on the phone. Crying. He was saying that this was the revenge he got for his patriotism. He was repeatedly asking us to run away in time.
Baba was very honest. He never charged wrong price. His shop was in the middle of Muslim colony. If anyone needed medicine, he would open his shop even at midnight and give it to them. Now he neither has the shop nor the courage. Even if I want to, I cannot go to console him. Now he is not even talking on phone.
Many houses have the same story. Houses were looted after marking them. One of my relatives’ house was set on fire. There were many cows and calves there. The rioters freed them and took them away. Girls are also being looted along with the goods. The family members are crying inconsolably but are getting a police report done. Everything is theirs. Even the police. If the girl is gone, who knows she may return tomorrow, when they get bored.
Has this happened to anyone you know?
After a long silence comes the answer- They have an eye on all our mobile phones. I cannot tell you much. I am feeling very sad, just understand this. I myself was a lawyer but when I went to court, I used to wear a burqa over my sari. Even after a year, no one gave their case. They would come to the table and leave after looking at it. Then I joined a company. This was when the atmosphere was light. Now even if I survive, I may never be able to work. Wait for a few years, news like Afghanistan will come from our place too. Women doctors and lawyers will be seen cooking food day and night.
We chatted for several hours with the help of an online translator. In between, she took long breaks. On returning, she says with a slight apology – it was my turn to guard now. Or the people guarding needed some help.
A lot of videos and pictures kept coming from the other side of the phone. Heartbreaking pictures. Blood soaked bodies. Burning houses. People crying and screaming. Burnt puja books. One picture was different. When asked, they say – These are the people of Panchgarh. They are trying to reach the border to go to India. There must be around 2 thousand people.
Everyone wants to go to India….I too would if I get a chance. A somewhat hesitant voice comes- Your daughter is studying in Siliguri. We went to your place for her admission. For the first time I felt why our ancestors did not settle on the other side. Terrible suffering… She is writing incomplete sentences in Bengali.
Tell me something about your daughter?
I cannot tell you much. She is studying. She was about to come home a few days ago. We stopped her from coming together for the puja. Now it seems that we will never be able to meet again
There are many reports that Muslim neighbours are giving protection to Hindus!
This is just a facade. A pretense. Many Muslim organizations will stand in front of temples with sticks and swords. They will get their photos clicked. And then they will move away. Why is this security not being provided when people’s homes are being attacked? Why is no one protecting them when Hindus are being cut down with swords on the streets? Yes. But the common Muslims themselves are worried about what will happen to their country. They are scared that Bangladesh may also become Pakistan or Afghanistan. Many good people are unable to help even if they want to. They are scared that if they help us, they will themselves get into trouble.
We are guarding the house in turns at night. The men are outside the house in the street, and we are inside the house. Electricity has started going off for the whole day. At night we depend on diyas and torches. Just last night a mob of 50 people came to destroy our local temple. Our people were more. We chased them away. But for how long, I don’t know.
His last chat in our conversation is – If I die here, will you people save my daughter…!
(The woman’s identity has been concealed because of ongoing threats.)
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)