News:
In order to create a world record, more than 250 thousand people, mostly apparel workers and students, were arranged to gather at the National Parade Ground to sing in unison the National Anthem on March 26, 2014. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emotionally urged everyone to revive the spirit of the War of Liberation through singing the national anthem inspired by patriotism. She further said that the world would be able to know Bengali’s nationalism and patriotism, which will remain as a record in the Guinness Book.
Comment:
Failing to provide food, shelter, and security of life, property and honour to the people, Hasina government continuously engages in shallow emotional projects to divert people’s attention. Earlier, she had arranged the creation of world record for largest “human” national flag in December 2013.
Rulers use occasions like the so-called National Independence Day, Victory Day, etc. to emotionally blackmail the deprived people. While the celebrations go on, our resources are given to the western companies for low price, ministers and secretaries engage in corruption, price of electricity and essentials rise increasing the sufferings of the Ummah. Political murders, disappearances have become everyday news. Realizing that she stands on flimsy ground with unfavourable public opinion after a farcical national election and to suppress all her failures and all opposition voice, Hasina needs these projects one after another. There is no doubt that her failures, corruption and cruelty will remain in the record of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and she will be dealt with in befitting manner on the Day of Judgement.
The corrupt ideas of nationalism and patriotism are shallow, narrow and based on emotion from their very origin. No matter how much she tries, the “spirit” of “liberation war” cannot be revived and people cannot be motivated based on patriotism as the Bengalis’ are not in war against any occupier today. The idea of nationalism, whether based on land or language, i.e. Bangladeshi nationalism of BNP and Bengali nationalism of Awami League cannot give solution to the people’s problems nor does it stop the looters and the corrupt. Hasina’s emotional appeal does not touch the people with empty stomach, educated unemployed youths who are forced to leave the country at any cost, farmers who are forced to sell their produce below their production costs, workers who get wage below what they deserve and the ones who drive their rickshaws’ in scorching summer heat.
Instead of the false basis of nationalism and patriotism, Islam unifies people on the basis of Aqeedah, belief in the Creator Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. Our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has categorically denounced all kinds of nationalism. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
«دَعُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُنْتِنَةٌ»
“Leave it, its rotten.”
On the other hand, Islam presents a comprehensive solution to human problems which can be implemented by establishing Islamic State. Only Khilafah will remove the sufferings of the Ummah and lead them towards peace, progress and prosperity.
Written for The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Muhammad Raiyan Hasan
Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wilayah Bangladesh