—Dr Shamsad Mortuza—

For those who have fasted for a month, the morning breakfast before heading for the Eid-ul-Fitr jamaat feels slightly odd. The otherwise familiar mealtime feels unfamiliar, and the body hesitates to consume food at an “untimely” hour. The return to the usual meal schedule is not only of joy but also of a spiritual solace that has been achieved through a month-long disciplining of the body and mind. We fast to experience hunger, to feel empathy for those who go hungry throughout the year for various reasons.

The process of experiencing hunger is completed through mandatory acts of charity (zakat-al-fitr). It is designed to spread the joy of Eid. The small gestures of those who “have” allow those who “have not” to partake in the joy of Eid. The fitra is more than a monetary contribution. It is an act of solidarity informed by the divine will: end class barriers and don’t let anyone feel excluded. For Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, Eid is about “reasserting the ethical imperative to build a just society”. He writes in Western Muslims and the Future of Islam, “Eid is not merely an event but a reminder that our collective duty is to create spaces where no individual is discriminated against based on poverty, ethnicity, or gender.”

Often, we tend to narrow down this brotherhood as a homogenous entity. But Allah (SWT) reminds us of this diversity in one of the verses in Quran: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:13). Being righteous is not an inherited legacy of being born into the right religion; it is the responsibility of practising righteous acts in everyday life.

As we stand on the cusp of a new era, there are lessons to be learnt from Eid. After all, the fall of the old regime has created possibilities for something new for the nation. Lest we forget, the call for ending all forms of discrimination led to the fall of the old regime. The fall happened due to the pride and stubbornness of the ruler. It happened because of the insistence on violence to prove that might makes right. However, some old fear overshadows the crescent moon’s promise of renewal. We are still afraid to voice our opinions. Criminal syndicates are the latest manifestation of the might/right reality.

The interim government is trying its best to restore the broken economy, establish law and order, and and earn the trust of local and international communities. But they seem to be losing their way in the treacherous terrain of a fragmented society. In a way, some of the fragmentation is their own doing. The election countdown should have started by now to signal to foreign investors that we are on a path to electoral democracy.

The delayed transition to democracy is inadvertently crafting a power vacuum that has allowed opportunistic criminal entities to thrive. In a recent editorial, this newspaper spotlighted the exuberant extortion in the transport sector, with 98 percent of transport operators overcharging their passengers. They brand the extortion as “Eid tips”, which is estimated to amount to Tk 832.30 crore during this extended Eid holiday. The new goons use the modus operandi of the old ones to continue with the culture of extortion and exploitation. On average, each passenger is paying an extra fare of Tk 200. How can such behaviour be righteous during the season of holy festivity?

Experts predict 1.5 crore people will leave Dhaka during this season. It is refreshing for those of us who have chosen not to go to our ancestral homes or fancy resorts for the holidays, allowing us to experience Dhaka in its rare, pristine form. But many of those people will leave Dhaka knowing that they have lost their jobs. The industrial sector has felt the brunt of political transition. Many factories and business houses of the former regime are destroyed and put out of operation. Political vengeance, mobbed by lingering animosities, has left thousands of workers unemployed and pushed entire communities into economic uncertainty. The country’s main export sector has witnessed a slump, as many factory owners have either fled or hesitate to invest further.

As factories shutter and businesses fold, we witness an unprecedented rise in crime. Reports of burglaries and street muggings have become the new norm. Even during the holy month, such crimes have continued. There is a sense of insecurity gripping the nation. The home adviser’s 3am press conference last month could hardly assuage the tension.

Decades of autocratic governance have polarised the country. The new government could not do much to embalm the distrust and division. Instead of seeking truth and reconciliation, our politicians and would-be politicians are locked in a zero-sum game where victory for one side is still perceived as an existential defeat for the other. We are stuck in the myth of the snake eating its tail.

The interim government, despite its best intentions, has failed to untangle themselves from this toxic web of political animosities. A new interest group has emerged and is busy creating its own legacy. Some of them are “crafting” family heritage. Some of them are adapting to luxurious lifestyles. Some of them are enjoying the power. Some of them are keeping an eye on the situation from a distance to swoop in at a convenient time. In all probability, the fate of Awami League has taught them to secure a free get-out-of-jail card in this game of political monopoly.The result is a domino effect that’s polarising society even further. Bangladesh Bank sources revealed that there were about 5,000 new millionaires (with more than Tk 10 million in their bank accounts) in the last quarter of 2024.

To bring back confidence, the rule of law must be established. The judicial process for trying the criminals involved in atrocities must be visible. We must put an end to witch-hunting and allow professional bodies to carry out their mandated tasks. The challenge is to establish a just society.

While we celebrate Eid, we need to reflect on our actions. The new moon should not be tainted by the stigma of the old. We have seen the evil of a monolithic narrative. We need to create a system that eschews class barriers, and promotes plurality and inclusivity, and above all, righteousness. That is the true spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr. It is more than the feast, the sharing of gifts, or participating in a communal prayer. There is a deep ethical dimension to this otherwise spiritual and social event. Eid celebrates gratitude, compassion, and renewal for the well-being of the entire community. Hence, it demands an end to discrimination and marginalisation.

EID MUBARAK!

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Dr Shamsad Mortuza is professor of English at Dhaka University.