The world has woken up anew to the age-long brutality of Zionist Israel against the hapless citizens of Palestine, with Western aid and the astonishing silence of the Arab world. It would be wrong to say that this 'world' refers to the people of the world, mainly because of the unprecedented hellishness of recent times, which has angered a section of the world's students, youth and freedom-loving people, who are driven by their conscience. They are not borrowing techniques or any equations.
The remarkable thing is that the students and youth of Western countries, including the United States, who have given everything to humanity around the world, have come down on the streets to show solidarity with the oppressed Palestine in intense anger, ignoring the red eyes of their rulers. Even on US university campuses, there is intense tension. The country's law and order forces are leaving no stone unturned to use force and intimidation to stop the angry students. As a result, many students and even teachers are getting arrested.
According to international media reports, this manifestation of Palestinian solidarity in the United States is happening in various parts of the world including Europe. The students and youth of Bangladesh, who have historically been with the people of Palestine, have also taken to the streets for the last few days in favor of 'independent Palestine' and demanding an end to Israeli brutality. In continuation of several rallies in Dhaka University, a rally was held today on Thursday.
Born through a bloody nine-month liberation war, Bangladesh is no stranger to the bleakness of subjugation. Despite the various realities of political polarization including the distortion of the history of the liberation war, there is no shortage of love and solidarity for the oppressed people of Palestine in the minds of the people of Bangladesh. We notice that the current government and leaders of various levels of the ruling party have also taken a strong stand against brutality in Palestine. Although many people try to say that this position is for the opposition of the United States, we think that everyone should be united for the oppressed Palestine, regardless of the party. There should be no variation in taking a stand on this expression of solidarity in terms of domestic politics. Also, religious considerations should not play a role in expressing solidarity.
As a country that cherishes the heritage of freedom struggle, it should be our duty to take a stand for oppressed people in any part of the world. We heard the same sentiments of the liberating people echoed in the voice of the last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, at the midnight of 15th August, 1947, when India declared independence. That day he admitted unequivocally, ``Freedom Loving People Everywhere''.
But we are noticing the ambivalence of the political parties here in expressing the solidarity of independent Palestine in the polarization of internal politics. It is alleged that the desire of some parties in opposition to the government for the support of the Western powers is the reason for their strange silence on Palestine. While the Islamic parties have raised the bar on many internal issues with the guise of religious frenzy, their significant programs are not visible in the ongoing atrocities on Palestine. The assessment of political observers is that, although these parties and organizations are united in party and group interests, their position is unclear for the oppressed people.
On the other hand, we note with deep pain that the countries of the Middle East have continued to exhibit a surprising silence against the brutality of Palestine for centuries, despite the ongoing Israeli destruction, their strategic conservatism continues. Although they condemn Muslim solidarity, Western development and Israel, there is no strong action from their side. Countries continue to prioritize their own trade and security strategies.
Every day, hundreds of innocent Palestinian children, women-old people and even those under treatment are targeted by Israeli attacks, but the Arab world does not wake up. At a time when the West, including Israel, is reeling from Iran's active stance, if the Middle East countries had spoken the language of arms instead of mere condemnation, the scenario could have changed in a week. Analysts monitoring the situation in the Middle East say that if the Palestinian armed group Hamas had not put up a strong resistance against Israeli brutality, the Israeli prosperity and destruction would have spread much further.
Even if we take the call for US disarmament to have significance, it is clearly the result of the rise of Hamas and other pro-independence armed groups. Those who are confined to 'Palestinian solidarity' by tuning into various polarizations or by tactical protest-condemnation have no choice but to get out of it. Needless to say, strong global public opinion also has a definite value. Absolute solidarity for Palestine irrespective of all differences and religious identities is the need of the hour.