A new generation of Bangladeshis living in USA took stage to express their solidarity with Bangladeshi bloggers in New York City. Many civil rights issues, including freedom of expression in Bangladesh have been severely curtailed by means of killing, mutilating, threatening, kidnapping, etc. The event ‘Unslain Words: Solidarity for Bangladeshi Bloggers‘ was organized to protest against these trends and rise of religious fundamentalism there.

Picture of Bangladeshi Bloggers killed in 2015 — Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, Ananta Bijoy Das and Niloy Neel

Four Bangladeshi bloggers were brutally killed this year in different parts of Bangladesh. Avijit Roy on February 26th, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu on March 30th, Ananta Bijoy Das on May 12th, and Niloy Neel on August 7th. Threat is still looming over more than 70 other Bangladeshi bloggers in Bangladesh, many of whom are in hiding. Bangladeshi bloggers living abroad are also threaten. Many have stopped writing out of fear, others continue, knowing that they do so at immense threat to their own lives. Those who have the means have fled the country. Others are desperately seeking an exit strategy. These successive killings and threats towards the writers have drawn a negative image of Bangladesh around the world again after Rana Plaza disaster in 2013.

Mindless killing of bloggers have brought wide condemnation everywhere. Many asked the Bangladeshi authority to provide security for the bloggers, urged to keep them safe, demanded justice. Bangladesh Government attested some perpetrators but also advised the bloggers to tone down their rhetoric against Islam. Bangladesh Police advised them not to cross the line or to leave the country or hide!

The reaction of Bangladeshi community living abroad varies. Some said it was bloggers who are at fault by disrespecting the religious value of Muslim people of Bangladesh through their writings. Others said the bloggers have the right to express their views in a civil democratic society without fear. Whatever the view, majority of Bangladeshi community in USA condemned the killing of bloggers. Religious fanatics committed hideous crimes. Some Bangladeshi organizations protested against the brutal killing. Some gave statements in local Bangla community newspapers.

Bangladeshi new generation living abroad, especially in USA, was perhaps not sure what to do and how to react to this kind of incident! Yet, a solidarity event was held in Brooklyn, New York on September 16th by some non-resident Bangladeshis in collaboration with PEN America, Roulette Intermedium and Center for Inquiry. They expressed their solidarity for Bangladeshi bloggers by words – by reading from their own literary works, from slain bloggers last writing and through live music.

A good number of audience attended the event and it was well presented. The event also provided opportunity for attendees to support Bangladeshi authors who are at risk. Fund collected are specifically earmarked for Bangladeshi authors in need of emergency help due to extreme threats and legal, medical, or security expenses.

Solidarity with Bangladeshi Bloggers in Brooklyn NY — Unslain Words: Solidarity for Bangladeshi Bloggers

Among the Bangladeshi participants, Abeer Yusria Hoque, a Nigerian born Bangladeshi American writer and photographer recalled her experience with religion in her family. As she was growing up, she remembered, her sister and classmates who were learning Islamic education was not happy with the system. With time she was losing her faith in Islamic teaching. Islam’s inheritance and witness law, Islam’s view on girl’s romantic relationship, imposing religion to mend behavior, etc. forced her to seek refuse in the verses of Sura Al Kafirun where it states “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”

Aladdin Ullah, a comedian, playwright, and actor of Bangladeshi origin, recalled his struggle to fit into his parent’s Bangladeshi value versus his own American identity, his experience of visiting Bangladesh for the first time and find out a lot of cultural and religious practices that made no sense – secular Bangladesh turned into non-secular country, loud call for prayers, exploitation of children, throwing acid to women, color discrimination in American Club in Dhaka…etc. made him think is this why Bangladesh was born in 1971?

Farah Mehreen Ahmad, a Brooklyn-based Bangladeshi writer, researcher and translator, read about a short story in three parts about coercion, domestic violence, and rape.

Javed Jahangir, a writer, essayist and novelist, wondered about George Orwell’s answers to the question ‘Why I Write’, where Orwell told the readers that he writes because of sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse and political purpose. Javed finds new insights in Orwell’s reason for writing in political purpose. Political writing is an art form of highest purpose. The political purpose of writing may not always be appreciated but when needed, the writing can give a boost to overcome the apprehension to achieve something great.

Tanwi Nandini Islam, a writer, multimedia artist, and business entrepreneur, read a travelogue about visiting Bangladesh. She recalled her trip to Sylhet, its indigenous people, lush green, rock, river, flora and fauna etc. that contributed to her recently published book.

Anik Khan, a Brooklyn based Bangladeshi hip-hop singer, energized the audience with his great music.

Bangladesh’s culture of violence has been a constant problem in its development. Bangladeshi community living abroad, especially new and second generation of Bangladeshis can help to curb that culture by showing better alternatives. This event was one example. An important aspect of the event was that it was organized jointly with non-Bangladeshi organizations. This kind of endeavor could bring more attention to a wider audience about Bangladesh.

Hope the participating Bangladeshis will not stop there. They will continue writing about Bangladesh on blogs, newspapers, magazines, social medias, etc. Words, music, drama, painting, photo, video – all can be instruments for a powerful dialog to promote a civil society in Bangladesh from abroad.

Is it possible to organize such event by any Bangladeshi organization where the new generation of Bangladeshis will speak their minds freely!

It was a small but an important event. There were only 30-35 people – some second generation Bangladeshi young, some first generation adults, some men, some women – all living in New York City. They get together to remember a boy who was not known to them even few weeks ago. The boy, 13-year-old Samiul Alam Rajon, was killed brutally by a group of men in Bangladesh on July 8, 2015.

These second generation of Bangladeshis – some are as young as Rajon, met in Brooklyn to hold a vigil, demanded justice and asked to stop nonsensical death of so many innocent kids in Bangladesh and across the world.

They said what others have already said. But what was new is their presence as a second generation Bangladeshi community. They poised as a voice of the community. They did not make huge banner, bought newspaper and TV ad but the effort itself was a good and right step toward.

Violence in Bangladesh is common. As mythical as it may sound, as a tolerant country, Bangladesh also condone tremendous amount of violence. Mixed with despair and disability, fate and faith, history and heritage, police and politics, life of Bangladeshi people just go on with varieties of violence. On the other hand, people routinely protest of violence, demand justice, government make task force, sometimes take action, few are punished but most of them are forgotten from the public mind as this routine never changes.

The first generation Bangladeshi immigrants abroad know all these too well. For them Rajon’s are killed, protests are done, promises are made, steps are taken – right or wrong. Time passes by and life goes on. The second generation Bangladeshis, some know about this trend, most not. Some can make sense, most not. Some understand, most not. But none wants to be part of their prior generation’s mundane cyclical state of mind that goes on and on and on like an endless bad dream.

Not bad but as part of a bold dream, they organized a ‘Vigil for Rajon’ in Brooklyn.

Again, what they did was more important than what they said. They created an event on Facebook, invited others, communicated with their peers, asked non-Bangladeshi friends to join in and brought few first generation Bangladeshis who care. Not much was said, indeed. Everyone decently took their turn to say something – short, sharp and to the point – a rarity among Bangladeshi society.

They circled the Church-McDonald Avenue crossing – where many of the Bangladeshis meet, mingle, gossip, chitchat, live and work in Brooklyn – with vigil and slogan. It was not just to say that they gathered only for Rajon’s in Bangladesh – indeed, they were there to tell that they care for the community they belong to and the country their parents came from. That they want to act with resilience and responsibility.

This second generation Bangladeshi initiative seemed like kind of isolated as there was less enthusiasm among the local Bangladeshi people. They reacted with cautious curiosity, passed by as evasive onlookers. From a nearby mosque, more Bangladeshis Muslims came out after prayer – none stopped by to ask about the event or to attend the Vigil for Rajon!

In a sense, outside of Bangladesh, first and second generation Bangladeshis have a cultural gap. They are connected but understand each other less. How come when Rajon’s are dying in Bangladesh, first generation Bangladeshis gave wordy statements, but none came out to support this event of young Bangladeshis! On the contrary, any establishment coming from Bangladesh got kind of ‘mini-humongous’ reception at airports, hotels, houses, restaurants, streets and even in picnics. Seems like for the first generation, the first event has little clear goal, the second events have specific ‘aim’.

Again, it is what it is. Child violence happen, people protest, leaders give statements, committees are formed, investigations are ordered, recommendations are submitted, and outcome remains obscure! Violence happens, people protest, leaders…the cycle goes on and on until it [does not end]. This is what most Bangladeshis living abroad saw and take it for granted. These are part of the payment for being a Bangladeshi. For the first generation of Bangladeshis abroad, it is still that reality here.

They can show that a better alternative is possible.

What the second generation Bangladeshis can do? Nothing much or very little, perhaps. They can show that a better alternative is possible. Less talk, more work; less division, more unity; less shout, more think, less newspaper, more book; less drama, more diversity; less popularity, more responsibility. To do this little, second generation of Bangladeshis do not need any confrontation or even conversation with the prior generation. Remember Nike?

Bangladesh will not get back Rajon and many others, but if the sad demise of Rajon can give birth some spark among the new generation of Bangladeshis to be deeply dedicated, highly motivated and create a new breed of Bangladeshis in distant lands, then the nation might not have to ask for endless forgiveness from the Rajons who are facing violence and being killed everyday.

Hope those tiny little lights of vigil were meant not to remember Rajon only but also to welcome a new generations of young Bangladeshis activists who are living abroad – across the world.