Saraswati Puja: Why cannot the Election Commission be sensible?

Published : 18 Jan 2020, 12:27 PM
Updated : 18 Jan 2020, 12:27 PM

It is both sad and bewildering why the Election Commission has not changed the date of the polls to the two Dhaka city corporations. I believe it was in October last year when the government announced the holiday list for 2020. This included 8 'Optional Holidays' for the Hindu community and Saraswati Puja, at which homage is paid to the Goddess of Learning, is one of these holidays. In the government's holiday list Saraswati Puja was listed on Jan 29 but it is the Puja Committee at the Dhakeshwari Mandir which actually fixes the date and the committee, at their meeting on Jan 3, fixed Jan 30. Considering this, the Election Commission should have changed the date at that time. Over the nearly 30 years I have lived in Bangladesh, I have seen that at places of learning they have either been closed for the day or, in many places, the schools and colleges have stayed open, not for classes, but for Saraswati Puja functions attended by all faiths.

When I came to live and work in Bangladesh in 1985 after living in India for 15 years, I found that the communal harmony in Bangladesh was much better, in my opinion, than in India. Where there were or had been a few problems, I found that many of them were related to land disputes rather than religious intolerance.

Let the Election Commission show some tolerance, and respect the religious and constitutional rights of the Hindu community and change the date of the City Corporation Elections. Students who should be at college and university are on fast in cold conditions where the quality of air very bad as well.

I trust that within 12 to 24 hours from now, good sense will have prevailed in the Election Commission. At least that is what I am praying for today.