Published in The Independent, June 2010
One of the photographs on display during the Ummid Photography Competition 2010 - by Farhana Islam
Bangladesh’s newest group of citizens had much to celebrate last week. In order to mark the second anniversary of the supreme court decision that recognized the Urdu-speaking community’s right to citizenship, an international photography competition and exhibition was held at Alliance Francaise in Dhanmondi. It was the first time in nearly 40 years that an exhibition has focused on Bangladesh’s Urdu-speaking community, who largely occupy the margins of mainstream society.
Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, inaugurated the exhibition last Tuesday in the presence of around 100 guests, many of whom live in Urdu-speaking camps in Dhaka. He said, “This is now your land and you are citizens of this country. So love this country and work for its government. And on our part, we will support you and work for your human rights.”
As well as increasing the visibility of the Urdu-speaking community, the exhibition also suggests a shift in attitudes towards them. Resentment towards Urdu-speakers for their perceived role as collaborators during the Liberation War of 1971 has led to the community being ostracized ever since. Those who have protested that it was a section of the Urdu-speaking community rather than the whole who sided with the West Pakistani army have mostly been ignored. However last Tuesday, several influential public figures attended the exhibition’s launch as a sign of solidarity. The well-known poet Asad Chowdhury said, “I realised that we are living in the same economic, cultural and environmental position, but unfortunately we do not know what each other is thinking or feeling. There is a wall between us.” Asad spoke of his admiration for classical Urdu poetry, and said that he recognizes a similarity between the identity crisis of the Urdu-speaking community and that of the Palestinians, whose poems he has translated. He added, “It’s my responsibility as a writer to ask that we not patronize, but support and acknowledge other languages in Bangladesh.”
The identity of the Urdu-speaking community has been problematic for decades. They are commonly referred to as “Biharis” or, albeit less frequently, as “stranded Pakistanis” – but neither is accurate. Whilst it is true that many Muslims from the Indian state of Bihar migrated to East Bengal during the partition of India in 1947, there were also many other Urdu-speakers who arrived from different regions of India. The coordinator of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), Dr C.R. Abrar, said: “After 1971, the term “Bihari” began as a literary term that led to implying that they are ‘the other, the reject.’ It has a connotation that they do not belong to us, that they are a separate community altogether. This term should not be used – they should be referred to as the ‘camp dwelling Urdu-speaking community.'” Dr Abrar explained that although sections of the media describe the group as ‘stranded Pakistanis’ and some of the older generations of camp dwellers identify themselves as such, extensive research undertaken by RMMRU revealed that the younger generations consider themselves Bangladeshi. Once this was discovered, Dr Abrar and his team began researching the nation’s citizenship laws and high court judgments on various property issues involving the Urdu-speaking community. Dr Abrar said, “We were absolutely convinced that these people never forfeited their right to being Bangladeshi citizens.”
One of my photos of a goat in the Geneva Camp was in Ummid's exhibition.
Similarly, Ahmed Ilias, the executive director of Al-Falah Bangladesh, which is the only NGO working to promote the rights of Urdu-speakers, has worked tirelessly over the years to mobilize the community. Ahmed first became involved with Urdu-speakers in 1965, when he was a journalist assigned to cover refugees. He said, “I realised that the majority of people would not be able to go to Pakistan and would have to stay in Bangladesh and make a future here. During partition there was a great deal of resistance to integration and the leaders of the partition movement opposed me very much.” Nevertheless, Ahmed has never altered his view that integration was the best step forward in light of the Pakistani government’s refusal to repatriate them on the grounds that they cannot accommodate such a large number of refugees. Ahmed focused his efforts on encouraging young members of the community to file a writ petition asserting their right to citizenship, which was ultimately successful on May 18, 2008.
However despite being recognized as Bangladeshi citizens by the judiciary, Ahmed said that the government “has not come forward” to help improve the lives of around 200,000 Urdu-speakers living in poverty-stricken camps throughout Bangladesh. The camps were initially set up to provide security for the Urdu-speakers in the aftermath of the war, but conditions have deteriorated over the years as the population in the camps grew. The organiser of the exhibition, Shafiur Rahman, said that the government’s lack of involvement in their welfare is broadly similar to that of the wider community. He said, “There is still a political stumbling block when it comes to this community. Otherwise progressive people and institutions still hesitate.” This has led to the creation of a “self-help” approach within the community. After RMMRU discovered that only six percent of the Urdu-speaking population in camps are literate, improving the levels of education became the top priority. Schools have been set up in eight camps and classes are taught by members of the community who are training to become teachers. Work is also underway to improve the camp dwellers’ health, shelter and livelihoods. Conditions in the camp are dire, with up to eight family members’ sharing a single room of eight feet by eight feet square. Sanitation facilities are inadequate, water is scarce and electricity supplies are cut more frequently than in the rest of the capital. And without citizenship, camp dwellers were unable to apply for government jobs and state education, and have reportedly faced discrimination by private employers, which forces many into menial and unstable work.
Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury (right), chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, inaugurated the exhibition.
In light of the struggles that Urdu-speakers have faced over the years, it was not surprising that an exhibition celebrating their identity has lifted the spirits of many. Shafiur said that more than 500 images were submitted to the competition and that the quality of photography was “very strong.” He said, “It’s important that these photos don’t dwell on negativity, but rather look towards the future. But I do hope that in a few years’ time the images will be nothing like this, because it still reflects the dire poverty and the uncertainty and difficulties of life.”
The overall winner of the “camp life” category was MRK Palash, a photographer of The Independent whose stunning image suggested exclusion by depicting a view of densely built rooftops from behind a Hessian bag.
As Mohammad Hasan, the coordinator of Al-Fallah and a resident of the Geneva Camp in Dhaka, surveyed the striking and poignant photographs in the gallery, he turned to me and said, “We are breaking the silence of the camps.” One certainly hopes that he is right.
Its not at all possible to trust them for their Past linkage… given the chance they will come in support of PAKISTAN openly again. This is sad. Pakistan should take back all these stranded Pakistanis from the Land of BENGAL.
I wouldn’t usually approve a comment such as the above, but it’s a perfect example of the bigotry Urdu speakers face – even after 40 years of Bangladesh’s independence.
Dear Jessica Mudditt,
I am a Bangladeshi Hindu. I somehow landed here. I don’t know who you are, nor do I want to know. I just wanted to inform one small piece of information to you. In 2001, when Bangladeshi Hindus were persecuted by Jamat/BNP thugs, one BNP cadre brought one Urdu-speaking thug and threatened a Hindu women of my village to give away her small piece of land. And the women did that. I don’t have a lot of time to explain all these in details. What I wanted to inform you in short. We the Bengali people living in our own land. These urdu speaking people came and conspired against the natives. And there they din’t stop. They also mercilessness tortured us. And there they did not stop. They still oppress the Bangladeshi Hindus in collaboration with some Bengali Islamist fundamentalist whenever they get a chance as I said the one I personally know in 2001. Before saying “bigotry” I hope you will educate yourself first. Without understanding the psychology of the people if you make such comments then I am sorry to say the bigotry comes from your part. Thank you.
Promote Bangla, You are fool and ignored about the history of 1971.
Why you kept Golam Azam, Nizami, Sayeedi and others Rajakar sustain or ?. in courtliness, and becomes ministers ?. you fool why do not scared them
i am a bengali bangladeshi by the way. people like “promote bangla” don’t even know the sacrifices the Muhajir (inc. Bihari) people made so bangladesh could be an autonomous region in 1947- a place where minority muslims of what was then British India could live with dignity and practice their values. and this was a process that bengali muslims were instrumental in. therefore bangladesh is not the ‘property’ solely of bengali muslims. it is also the home for ALL Muhajir muslims who migrated before, during and after 1947 (in a form of political asylum); and not to mention the bengali hindus, buddhists and tribal communities. and what about Bengali Muslims themselves whose grandparents have migrated then from the Indian state of West Bengal? perhaps they and their families should be “sent back”. and what about current-day Pakistanis of Bengali background? I can think of a few famous people like that in the Pakistan entertainment industry alone. Perhaps they should be sent against their will to Bangladesh?
I am absolutely ashamed that some people in our country behave like such racist bigots. they are but a perfect embodiment of ‘nominal Muslims’. Prosecuting someone for a crime is normal (we Bengalis shouldn’t then be spared from prosecution as well), but racism against an entire community is unacceptable and should be criminalized in my opinion. it’s important to note this runs completely against the Muslim values.
nonetheless, people in the camps are I believe just a handful who ‘opted’ for today’s Pakistan and in vain due to the mismanagement of the repatriation process. I believe the bulk of the community have been living outside camps just like other Bangladeshis. I know this because I have close relatives who are of Muhajir background. and i’m pretty sure these people have good representation in small businesses, big family owned companies and even sports. maybe you could shed some light on that Ms. Mudditt?
i am a bengali bangladeshi by the way. people like “promote bangla” don’t even know the sacrifices the Muhajir (inc. Bihari) people made so bangladesh could be an autonomous region in 1947- a place where minority muslims of what was then British India could live with dignity and practice their values. and this was a process that bengali muslims were instrumental in. therefore bangladesh is not the ‘property’ solely of bengali muslims. it is also the home for ALL Muhajir muslims who migrated before, during and after 1947 (in a form of political asylum); and not to mention the bengali hindus, buddhists and tribal communities. and what about Bengali Muslims themselves whose grandparents have migrated then from the Indian state of West Bengal? perhaps they and their families should be “sent back”. and what about current-day Pakistanis of Bengali background? I can think of a few famous people like that in the Pakistan entertainment industry alone. Perhaps they should be sent against their will to Bangladesh?
I am absolutely ashamed that some people in our country behave like such racist bigots. they are but a perfect embodiment of ‘nominal Muslims’. Prosecuting someone for a crime is normal (we Bengalis shouldn’t then be spared from prosecution as well), but racism against an entire community is unacceptable and should be criminalized in my opinion. it’s important to note this runs completely against the Muslim values.
nonetheless, people in the camps are I believe just a handful who ‘opted’ for today’s Pakistan and in vain due to the mismanagement of the repatriation process. I believe the bulk of the community have been living outside camps just like other Bangladeshis. I know this because I have close relatives who are of Muhajir background. and i’m pretty sure these people have good representation in small businesses, big family owned companies and even sports. maybe you could shed some light on that Ms. Mudditt?
I live outside the country and got the opportunity to mix a lot urdu speaking people. what i realised after mixing with them, their cycology/mentality to completely different. Because of their urdu language they can do anything. This is kind of within their blood. And urdu politian use this ego for their own interest. Therefore, we should keep our eyes open towards this urdu speaking bengali, as they will support pakistan if the time come back again. However, currently as a country Pakistan is struggling even for its own existance, so no hope for Bihari bengali to do something stupid in the near future. But it is also very important as a bengali we can not unjust to any minority within our country. I think bangladeshi have done so much to them last 40 years, no education, no recognition, no job. This is completely wrong as a human, as a muslim, as a brother. This is our time to pay for it before too late, bangladeshi government should start a project immidiately which would help this minority Bengali to come upto the stanard of main stream society, otherwise, history will not forgive us. Someone has done wrong, does not means we will do the similar mistake; if it is the case, then we also will have to pay same as this minority paid for the last 40 years.
Hi
I am very thankfull to you all people.
Sir \ madam do you know one thing very important and fact is that . whose land is this.
This land is belong to Liaquat co operative society Dhaka sience 1956
With registered paper .
Pls help them also they are waiting waiting since 1960
Anything want to know contect Liaquat cimunity