Let there be an auspicious start to the year 1433

It is a coincidence that the Bangla New Year, Pahela Baishakh that is, begins with 'Mangol Bar' or Tuesday this year. The very word 'Mangol' is allergic to a quarter who are in favour of renaming the 'Mangol Shobhayatra' as 'Ananda Shobhayatra' for reasons best known to them. Then what about 'Mangol Bar'? Even the official stand in favour of the original name was changed at the last moment to 'Baishakhi Shobhayatra'.

The 'Mangol Shobhayatra' was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as an intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity way back on November 30, 2016. It is such a recognition in which the Bangalees can take immense pride. Instead, elements with an ulterior motive have embarked on course of making it controversial and thus undermining the essence of this event the international body appreciated in glowing terms.

'Mangol' means shubha or auspicious or well-being -- quite a positive sense. When one wishes another a good tiding, this word is best suited to express unreserved welfare. Making it controversial is intentional -- one that is perverse. Such words and terms of the mother tongue can never smack of any particular religion. After all, here is a word that has not been taken from any hymn. The controversy over the word is a needless exercise when there are better things to attend to.  

Instead of getting cowed down, the august celebration of occasions like the Pahela Baishakh should be continued to keep alive the vibrant cultural reawakening. Thus the inherent elevating spirit will gain ground and triumph over all evil forces and their crafty designs.

At a time when the world is waiting with bated breath for an end to the armed conflicts, particularly in the Persian Gulf and Gaza, this nation is giving a poor account of itself by making a non-issue a serious concern. The celebrations of the New Year by the Bangalees and the ethnic people in the hill districts are absorbingly colourful in their own special ways. Some quarters are definitely opposed to such joyous and aesthetic observance of the Pahela Baishakh.

The imposed war on Iran has sent shockwaves like that of a tsunami all across the globe on shores far beyond the war zone. Much as the celebration may be colourful, the long shadow of the war is imperceptibly present at the back of people's minds. The energy crunch is adversely affecting livelihoods of people in various sectors of the economy. Bangladesh cannot afford to lose its crops due to a lack of irrigation, its sea-going fishermen must not sit idle because of the crisis of fuel oil, its fertiliser factories cannot go into operation on account of supply shortage of gas and apparel factories fail to operate at full capacities.

The New Year is a highly cherished celebration for each and every people around the world. Here is a collective optimism that the first day of the year marks a fresh start after a full circle of the months on the calendar. But this time Bangladesh and countries like it have little to cherish because of the senseless war Israel and America forced on Iran. The war is fought in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East (ME) but many nations, particularly those dependent on fossil fuels from Iran and the ME find it difficult to run their factories, industries and transports. If movement of goods and people are restrained, the economy has to bear the brunt. This is what is happening right now in Bangladesh.

Instead of an auspicious beginning of the New Year, the people have made a cautious and tentative start. Even the initial enthusiasm of a newly inaugurated government has been replaced by genuine apprehension of something ominous. Economy is still afloat but it would find itself in life support if the war on Iran continues indefinitely. Donald Trump who bragged over his plan to destroy the Persian civilisation has exposed his poverty of knowledge of history. If the world people had been given the option to endorse or disapprove his action, he should be in the dock of people's court. Bombing and killing the innocent civilians including 168 to 175 girl students and dozens of teachers are a crime against humanity and this megalomaniac president deserves to be tried at the International Court of Justice at the Hague. He is a spoiler of international order and normal life around the world.    

It is because of this war economies of small nations are tottering. International bodies like the United Nations have been rendered irrelevant. There is no serious protest against the aggression unleashed. Some members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have only refused to join Trump in carrying out attacks on Iran, saying it is not their war. What restrained them from taking a united stand to send the message 'thus far and no further'? It is indeed spineless politics and decadence of civilisation.

nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com