Of frustration, hope, and resolve

Fellow blogger Asif said this the other day:

In the last 8 days of fund relief via TV channels in the UK, I couldn’t find a single not faith based organization that were getting relief via TV. These people from various faith based organizations, were out there on the field collecting money, volunteering etc that wins hearts and minds of common people. While, we folks, the so called liberals, are analyzing things ad nauseum.

My observations accord with his.  I don’t know about him, but I feel frustrated.  A lot.  

Once upon a time, I fantasised that I was a man of action who scoffed at the pencil-pushers thus:

He used to write articles urging constitutional reforms in his younger, university days. He writes less now, because he came to see the peaceful writing classes for the largely effete lazy goodfornothings they are.

I feel frustrated that when all is said and done, I am part of that writing class.  I feel frustrated that I am not doing anything.  In 1988, as a school kid I helped pack saline for the flood victims.  In 1998, as a university student, I helped raise money and awareness — in a small town of 300,000 thousands of miles from Bangladesh, we raised a sum that went well into five digits in US dollar.  In 2007, as a pencil-pusher, I haven’t participated in any community activity.  Oh I want to, but you know, it’s just a difficult time at work… I tell myself.  And I feel frustrated.

I feel frustrated that no one is doing anything.  A friend writes this:

The Bangladeshi community in my city held 21 meeting to decide what to do after last flood.  We proposed we should go on with the meeting so that we can make it to the next year’s flood!

It’s the same in my city.  I feel frustrated.

But it’s not the case that everyone everywhere is doing nothing.  Another friend writes:

I’m very proud to say that the first years from my former university — spontaneously and without any prompting/help from their seniors — managed to raise 300+ dollars in 2 days just among their dorm-mates and fellow students at the beginning of the week.

This gives me hope.  I hear that in other cities they are raising funds and awareness.  I hear that there are co-ordinated efforts.  I read about the work people are doing on the ground.  I read Asif’s updates and UV.  And these give me hope.

 

And when I see pictures like this, I feel the resolve of our people, I tell myself:

Shabash Bangladesh, e prithibi obak takiye roi, jole, pure, more, charkhar, tobu matha noabar noi.

Then I tell myself, frustration is not for me.  So what if I can’t go out and pack relief material?  I can still write, and writings need not be good-for-nothing.  I’ll write about two issues that are in the news — the food stock situation, and who’s helping us.

First the food situation.  After dithering for the past few days, it appears that the government is seeking half a million metric ton of rice from the donors.  According to the Daily Star, the government aims to keep 1.2 million ton rice in stock, while the current stock stands at 737,000 ton.  According to the Bangladesh Bank data, food grain stock stood at 794,000 ton in the September quarter 2007 (down from 896,000 ton a year earlier).  Given the already dire food price situation, it appears to me to be a very sensible decision for the government to seek food for relief.  In addition to the emergency relief, Bangladesh will still need to import much of its other food item, and as I’ve argued before, an appreciation of the taka ought to be on the cards for the policymakers.

And the international community — read our ‘development partners’ of the West — should provide the food relief right way.  Also on the news today is how much different countries have pledged.  According to the Prothom Alo, US$465 million has been committed thus far, with the Saudi Arabia being the most generous with US$100 million.  Western governments should remember that Bangladesh is one of the largest Muslim nations in the world.  They should remember that in the battle for Muslim hearts and minds, Bangladesh matters immensely.  If not for humanitarian reasons, for pure self-interest the western governments should help Bangladesh back on its feet.

And meanwhile, here  is what Anisul Hoque — also frustrated, but also resolute — suggests we do:

If you can, please rush to a remote char area today. If you cannot, after a few days, please buy a family a cow or a boat or fishing net. Even if one life is helped by that, wouldn’t it make our life and existence more meaningful?