ABDUL KHALEQUE KHANDKER

The world is now in the grip of war, anarchy and disorder on various issues and events. Bangladesh is not an exception. On the advent of fleeing the ousted regime they let loose social anarchy and bloodletting to the extreme to suppress the issue of students’ movement for quota reformation in the civil services.

But it is a matter of great solace that with the victory of the student-led mass uprising the country is now tiding over those crises with hot haste by the exclusive leadership of the Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus with the help of armed forces of the country.

Melodramatic bloodletting, chaos and arsons led by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made all peace-loving people awe-stricken and made them dumfounded. The violence and atrocities arisen thereof, were much of muchness between a real war situation in the country. It was hard to differentiate which was worse – the war time situation of a country, or the anarchic situation that arose centering the autocracy of the fallen government.

Here the writer himself describes the horrendous incident he witnessed in the afternoon of 19 July 2024 when the fallen government tried her best to quell the students’ movement by unleashing terror and violence on the countrymen by the state mechanism.

 It is reminiscence:

All on a sudden, there was roar of cry among people specially children and women to take shelter in a safe place. The Department of Disaster Management Building was set on fire. The blazing flames were about to engulf the densely populated bi-lanes of the adjoining area very close to the burning Department of Disaster Management Building.

Many people frantically started fleeing from the area by keeping their houses under lock and key to a safe place.

During the time the DDM Building was burning for several hours. People mostly women and children were staying in the streets away from their homes as the war refugees. They returned homes around 9 pm when the fire was partially doused.

 Analysts say, peace is taking an exile from the world day by day.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked the southern part of Israel. About 1,200 people were killed in that attack and 251 people were taken hostage. Israel then launched an attack on Hamas-controlled Gaza.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry said that 46,600 people have died in the attack so far. In addition, about 2.3 million Gazans have been displaced. Every moment Israel is killing innocent people of Gaza mostly children and women though ceasefire negotiation at hands.

Ukraine-Russian war has, in the meantime, awash the vast territories of the country with ocean of human blood yet there is no respite.

Now the thing the world needs the most, is peace. But unfortunately, peace is getting dearth in every society.

Scholars down the ages say, peace is a state of existence free from violence, conflict and turmoil. It is often associated with harmony, tranquility, and calmness, where people coexist peacefully without fear. Peace is not merely an absence of war or violence but a state of being where people live together in harmony, respect, and mutual understanding.

Here are some comments of analysts about peace. They say, peace has been a subject of discussion and contemplation throughout human history. However, it has remained elusive. The world has been marred by countless wars, conflicts and violence that have resulted in untold suffering, loss of life, and displacement of millions of people. The impact of war and violence can be devastating and long-lasting, not only to the direct victims but also to the wider society.

The need for peace, therefore, cannot be exaggerated. Peace is a fundamental human right and an essential aspect of human existence. It is the only way we can live together in harmony and promote mutual understanding among people of different cultures and backgrounds. Peace offers a nurturing environment for personal growth, development, and prosperity.

The role of peace in transforming individual’s behavior and beliefs cannot be discounted. When people embrace peace, they become more tolerant, compassionate, and empathetic towards one another. They learn to coexist and communicate effectively, promoting dialogue and harmony among people.

Peace has a significant impact on economic development and social progress. In countries ravaged by conflict and war, basic infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social services are often scarce or entirely absent. As a result, people in these regions are unable to access basic needs and services, which trap them into a cycle of poverty and hopelessness.

In contrast, in peaceful societies, the rule of law is upheld, basic services are provided, and economic development thrives. This creates a conducive environment for societal growth and development, providing people with opportunities to improve their lives.

In conclusion, peace is essential for human existence and development. It promotes mutual understanding, coexistence, and social growth. As such, we must strive to cultivate peace in our lives, societies, and nations, for only then can we truly achieve prosperity and fulfillment. We must learn to embrace peace and reject violence, conflict, and war, to create a world that is not only peaceful but also just and equitable. The benefits of peace are invaluable, and we must work towards realizing this fundamental human right.

It is, therefore, an urgent duty for us, the countrymen, to forget malice, hatred and antagonism among us. We had better foster peace in our social life. All keys of the national development consist in peace, harmony and co-existence. Let us pursuit the real peace and we will be successful to gain national and social development.