Central Bank Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam commented that there is no barrier to journalists' entry to Bangladesh Bank and said, "You need information, go  hundred times."

He said this at the inauguration of 'Customer Awareness Week' program in Panchagarh on Saturday (May 18) aimed at increasing the awareness of customers about banking.

Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam said that Bangladesh Bank has appointed three spokespersons to provide information. Not everyone needs to talk. There are three spokespersons. Go to them. There is seating. Tea is available. If they cannot satisfy you, we four deputy governors will answer you. Where is the problem? It is also said that journalists are prohibited from entering Bangladesh Bank.

In one question, he said, what to say freely? Will a private company of yours freely give anything to another company? How many friends will you give to the journalist? Then you say you want to go to Bangladesh Bank freely. We did not forbid going. You don't go my people are ready for you. If you want to go to an officer alone, go. If you want to come to me alone, come.

He said to the journalists, your aim is the welfare of the country, so is ours. The country belongs to everyone. This is what Bangabandhu said.  Look at the Prime Minister; I struggle to run 17 departments. And the Prime Minister is handling the country and abroad. She can imagine how hard she is working.

Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam also said that a budget of Tk. 8 lakh crore  will be announced this year. Don't be misled by those who are spreading misinformation. Bangladesh is now a role model for many countries. The country is moving forward. There is no time to look back. People's incomes have increased. Many are unknowingly spreading misleading information.

Commenting that Bangladesh Bank has lost its independent entity, the executive director of CPD Fahmida Khatun, a private research institute said. Fahmida Khatun said, the central bank is not able to take decisions keeping its spine straight. More emphasis is being given to implementing externally imposed decisions.

The executive director of CPD said these things in the speech as the chief guest at the Shadow Parliament debate competition organized by Debate for Democracy on Saturday (May 18) at FDC, Dhaka. Chairman of Debate for Democracy Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran presided over the event.

Fahmida Khatun said that the culture of transparency and accountability is being lost in various regulatory agencies including the central bank. As a result, the institutions are not able to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them.

She said, currently the anarchy in the banking sector has reached such a level that the decision to merge the banks has to be taken on the advice of the IMF. However, due to lack of prior preparation, integration has been challenged. Forced bank mergers may not be sustainable.

She also said that the banking sector has lost its ability to support the overall economy due to lack of good governance. People have lost faith in the banking sector. The central bank cannot provide any guarantee to keep the deposits in the bank safe. As a result, there has been concern among depositors. Those responsible for the hemorrhaging of the banking sector remain untouchable. People are not able to know the correct information about defaulted loans of banks.

In the speech of the President, Chairman of Debate for Democracy Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said, loan fraud, loan default, money laundering are the biggest black spots in Bangladesh's financial sector. By misappropriating the money of the bank, the comfort and luxury of the individual has taken the form of a cancer in the country's economy. Instead of treating this cancer of the financial sector, Bangladesh Bank has started the process of merging weak banks with strong or good banks. We will have to wait for a few more days to know whether it will bear fruit or not.

He also said that Bangladesh Bank cannot avoid the responsibility of instability in the country's financial sector. Banks have become family institutions with various legal benefits. A lack of good governance and accountability has pushed financial institutions to the brink. Therefore, political will is very important for the efforts being taken to overcome the ongoing crisis through the process of bank consolidation.

In the scorching heat, amidst the intensity of the sun's rays, attention is diverted to the colorful pigeons nestled in cages along the road. The pigeon market, nestled beneath the Gulistan Hanif flyover, is akin to a gathering of devoted pigeon enthusiasts. Every Friday, starting from 8 am, this bustling market unfolds along both sides of the road in the Kaptan Bazar area under the Hanif flyover.

Pigeon enthusiasts from various corners of the capital city, Dhaka, flock here to showcase and trade their diverse pet pigeon species.

This vibrant marketplace, teeming with the hustle and bustle of buyers and sellers, continues its lively activity until 5 pm.

Renowned as the oldest and largest pigeon market in the city, it draws visitors from near and far, eager to acquire their preferred pigeons.

Along the streets of Kaptan Bazar, individuals can be observed seated with cages brimming with pigeons, while others stand beside bicycles, motorcycles, and vans adorned with their feathered companions. Buyers traverse great distances to partake in this unique avian exchange.

Upon conversing with both buyers and sellers at the Gulistan pigeon market, it becomes evident that the market's allure lies in its diverse offerings of pigeons at varying price points and qualities. Priced from as low as Tk. 400 per pair to as high as Tk. 20,000 per pair, the market caters to a wide range of budgets, ensuring its bustling atmosphere.

Enthusiasts flock to this market for its assortment of pigeon breeds, including Milli Racer, Siraji, Bombay, Sabuj Gol, Laksha, Grizzle, Bogdadi, Sabzi Racer, Army, Giribaz, Potter (white, black, and yellow), Jaga Pin, and other domestic breeds.

For instance, Milli Racer pigeons fetch prices ranging from Tk. 1200 to Tk. 1500, Lahori Sirazi from Tk. 500 to Tk. 3000, Bombay from Tk. 500 to Tk. 700, Laksha from Tk. 1000 to Tk. 1500, Grizel Racer at Tk. 1500, and Bogdadi Homa from Tk. 800 to Tk. 1500 per pair. Additionally, prices vary based on factors such as breed, size, shape, and color.

Green round pigeons, for example, can be acquired for prices between Tk. 500 and Tk. 5000 per pair, while army racers command prices ranging from Tk. 4000 to Tk. 20,000 per pair, as revealed by sellers at the Gulistan Pigeon Haat. Currently, pigeon prices have plummeted, according to traders who remark that what was once a high-value commodity now holds little worth in the market.

Gopal Ghosh, a pigeon enthusiast from Jatrabari with 36 years of experience, reflects on the drastic change. Initially, he pursued pigeon keeping as a hobby but found himself deeply invested over time. However, he laments the lack of respect for the birds in today's market. Ghosh recalls selling a pair of Kala Beauty pigeons for Tk. 50,000 to Tk. 65,000 just two years ago, whereas today they fetch a mere Tk. 2000 to Tk. 3000. He attributes this price decline to the sudden drop following an increase in pigeon food costs, possibly exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

Similarly, Monir Hossain, a resident of Sanarpar, shares his experience. Since 1996, alongside his profession as a job holder, he has been passionately raising pigeons. For him, pigeon breeding evolved from a hobby to a livelihood, enabling him to build a home and acquire assets like motorcycles.

Despite the challenges, Monir finds fulfillment in pigeon rearing, dedicating his time and effort to the craft, which has proven lucrative enough to fund his ventures.

Abir Rahman, a student from Khilgaon, traveled to Rajasthan to explore pigeon acquisitions. He reveals that his current collection boasts 150 pairs of pigeons, valued between Tk. 2,50,000 to Tk. 3,00,000 in the market. Despite his sizable collection, Abir expresses a desire to venture into acquiring more expensive pigeons, hence his visit to the market. The pigeon he holds, an Army Racer, was acquired for Tk. 5,500, exemplifying his evolving interest and dedication to pigeon breeding. Abir admits that his passion for pigeons has become akin to an addiction, consuming much of his time, replacing former interests like chatting with friends.
While traders at the Haat remained tight-lipped on the matter, some anonymously shared concerns regarding the Haat system. These undisclosed businessmen confided in Barta24.com, highlighting the financial burden imposed on traders. Allegedly, regardless of sales, traders are obligated to pay Tk. 100 to Tk. 150 per cage to the lessee for market space, causing undue strain. Additionally, buyers are purportedly required to pay a 10% commission to the lessee based on the pigeon's price, as divulged by traders.

Traders present at the market lamented to Barta24.com that due to ongoing mismanagement, the number of buyers and sellers at the capital's oldest and largest pigeon market is dwindling day by day. However, attempts to address these issues directly with the lessee proved unsuccessful, as they could not be reached for comment. Similarly, the toll collector, acting on behalf of the lessee, declined to provide any insight into the matter when approached for an interview.

We mean the language movement in Bangladesh after the British rule in Pakistan in 1948 and the movement to establish the status of the Bengali language through the self-sacrifice of twenty- two immortal language martyrs. February 21 is a landmark day for the world language movement. Bengalis of East Bengal were inspired by the success of that movement. The discriminatory treatment of Pakistan has fueled the independence movement. We got the freedom of Bangladesh as a result of many movements, struggles and above all the indescribable hardships of the great liberation war and sea-like sacrifices and infinite bravery.

Much later, towards the end of the 20th century, Mother Language Lovers of the World was formed in Vancouver, Canada, under the leadership of Bangladeshi Canadian expatriates Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam. With the initiative and tireless efforts of this organization and the overall cooperation of the Government of Bangladesh, the day has been recognized as International Mother Language Day in the World Assembly today. The pledge announced by the United Nations today is to establish every language in the world in a place of dignity and not to let even one of the existing 7,000 languages be lost. Meanwhile, many languages, along with their culture, archeology and history, have been erased from the face of the earth due to hegemony and lack of awareness among the masses.

Therefore, we have to understand, despite having a golden history and success of the language movement, only the Bengalis of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) are not the only ethnic groups who have struggled and sacrificed their lives for the language. Half a millennium ago, the Spanish imperialist power in South America called Maya, Aztec, and Inca developed at that time. The nations of civilization were destroyed by genocide. They destroyed all the books of ten thousand local libraries. Today, only three books of the original Maya language are preserved (in Mexico City, Madrid and Dresden). Couldn't save the libraries and gradually destroyed their culture and ethnicity.

The Bengalis of Manbhum, a part of the Santal Pargana of the Bengal Presidency, have made a significant contribution to the preservation of the status of the language of the Bengali-speaking people. At the cost of many years of struggle, blood and life, they have established their demands. After that, the movement to protect the dignity of Bengali language started in Cachar, Assam. The first woman martyr Kamala Bhattacharya who gave her life for the Bengali language has lost her life in this movement.

In 1961, the Bengali people of Assam's Barak Valley joined the movement to uphold the status of their mother tongue. Although the majority of Barak's people speak Bengali, it was decided in 1961 to make Ahamia the sole state language of Assam. The Bengalis of Barak flourished. Bengali language got the status of one of the official languages of Barak Valley.

The Manbhum language movement has a long history. Manbhum district of Santal Parganas was Bengali dominated but belonged to Bihar for a long time. After India's independence, the Bengali speakers were under pressure due to the strictness of Hindi usage there. They jumped into the movement to uphold the dignity of the mother tongue. With the success of this movement which lasted for eight years from 1948, Purulia district was formed on November 1, 1956 with the Bengali speaking region of Manbhum. Purulia was taken from Bihar and merged with West Bengal. The door of using their mother tongue Bengali was opened before them.

Now back to the history of May 19. Assam's Barak Valley has been home to Bengali speaking communities since ancient times. At one time, most of the Dimasa people in this area belonged to the Cachar kingdom. Dimasa patronized royalty and Bengali language. Over time, when the British partitioned India, Sylhet, a part of Assam province, became part of East Pakistan. Cachar district is formed with part of Sylhet and Dimasa hilly and plain areas. This district has now been divided into four new districts namely Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj and North Cachar Hill District (Dima Hasao).

Since the partition of the country in 1947, the residents of Cachar district of Barak Valley have been subjected to discrimination. Assam is for the Ahamias and the Bengalis are outsiders there. That trend still exists. A class of politicians also floated in the tide of nationalism. The Bangalee Kheda Movement was also formed at one time. Even though those movements and violence were suppressed by the government, such problems kept cropping up from time to time.

After India's independence, members of the Assam State Legislative Assembly could speak in Bengali, Hindi or English. The first blow came on language. The Bengali people of Assam protested and resisted the declaration of Ahamiya as the only state language, the attempt to introduce it as a medium of education and the right to speak in Bengali in the Legislative Assembly. Assam State Government did not go for any acceptable solution. They adopted the policy of Ahmadiyya nationalism giving preference to narrow minded leaders. Bengalis also started organizing.

It can be assumed that the leaders of the movement were inspired by the success of the Dhaka language movement and Manbhum language movement. At the end of 1960, the Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Language Bill. The final nail has been hammered into the coffin. The Bengalis were blown away. The continuous movement continued. Satyagraha, non-cooperation, hartal, rail stop, Sankalpa Divas, Barak Valley became turbulent in the non-violent movement of Itakara. At one stage of this movement, on May 19, 1961, Satyagrahis, who had been agitating since dawn, gathered at the railway station of Barak, the center of Silchar. Thousands of student youth mobs occupied the railway station premises and railway lines. Unable to remove them, the government resorted to brutal repression. Police forces resorted to indiscriminate firing to disperse the crowd. A total of 11 students including the world's first female language martyr Kamala Bhattacharya were killed. They are known as eleventh language martyrs.

Their sacrifice was not in vain. In the Barak Valley, Bengali language gets the status of the second state language. Shaheed Minar with portraits of martyrs was installed in front of Silchar railway station. Along the way, Shahid Minar of the same shape later spread in the entire Barak Valley. Silchar railway station has been renamed as Janata Bhasha Shaheed Railway Station. However, it has not yet received full government recognition.

The self-sacrifice of activists including eleventh martyrs to protect the dignity of Bengali language has entered the pages of history. But do Bengalis of all areas have the right idea about this language movement? The answer is 'no'. It is our duty to take the initiative to tell the stories of their sacrifices so that the future generations will be inspired by their fighting spirit and learn to fight against all injustices. The eleventh language of the Barak valley remains a martyr. May the rights and dignity of all mother tongues including Bengali be upheld.

Many who participated in that movement are still alive. Many of those who led are alive. At the same time, it is not difficult to find witnesses. However, they will no longer be among us naturally within the next century. Now is the perfect time to record their interview. Adequate research needs to be done on the movement, its martyrs and martyrs' families. Heroes need to be honored appropriately. We still have a long way to go to uphold the status of Bengali language and Bengali speaking people globally. We need more heroes. A hero does not grow in the soil where the hero is not respected.

Author: Essayist and Traveler