[Bangladesh2024Campaign] 7. A letter from Dhaka (ঢাকা)

It all started with an email from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, from Mustain Zahir, a Bangladeshi civil rights activist, to Go-Eun Lee, a South Korean social activist.

 

 

The two were classmates at the Graduate School of Sociology at Sungkonghoe University in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Zahir, an international student from Bangladesh received his degree in 2016, and then participated in a series of projects related to 518 Gwangju.

 

Ms. Lee, Go-Eun, who majored in social movements in Bangladesh, worked on research projects at the Swedish Institute for Policy Studies for two years, and returned to Korea to work as a social activist. She has been an active participant in the <Muyong Shin> campaign since 2023.

 

 

In the email, Zahir described the situation in Bangladesh and asked for help.

 

"I'm so delighted to share that finally we got rid of the despot reigning and ravaging Bangladesh for the last 15 years! Now, we are passing through a momentous change after the successful mass uprising on 5th August 2024 that forced the autocrat to resign and flee from the country. She is now hiding in India!

 

"The student-people led Monsoon revolution has presented us with a historic opportunity to reimagine and rewrite the formation of a new political chapter. As a civil rights activist, and your friend, I'm proud to share that I have been very active during the movement and coordinated the student leaders at the forefront of this revolution. It was the best experience of my life, even though I had to go through ordeals of security crackdown and nightmarish situations!

 

"Before she left the country in the span of one month, the tyrant killed nearly one thousand people, thousands were severely injured and many more of the protesters are still traumatized. We are trying to collect the names, document the stories and wish to preserve this glorious history of our democratic struggle."

 

 

Having witnessed that the citizens of South Korea impeached then-President Park Geun-hye in 2016, and being familiar with the pro-democracy protests and sacrifices of the people of Gwangju in 1980, Mr. Zahir described South Korea as the role model for Bangladesh to redesign its politics and society.

 

"As you know in Korea CSO played an important role in initiating institutional mechanisms to find truths, seek accountability and instill the spirit to nurture ethos and sensibilities for the generations to come."

 

 

Mr. Zahir seems to believe that Bangladesh's monsoon revolution should learn from South Korea's experience in order to avoid following in the footsteps of the Arab Spring that took place in the Middle East and North Africa a decade ago.

 

"Having this knowledge and exposure, I couldn’t think of any better place to seek advice and suggestions to undertake a formal approach for Bangladesh so that we can also begin a process to do similar work in preserving and cultivating the aspiration of the heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for democracy, freedom and justice."

 

 

To facilitate the exchange and cooperation of citizens from both countries, Mr. Zahir asked for four things

 

1. It would be a great help, if PSPD/May18 or other like minded organizations come forward to help us make a systematic documentation of the events.

2. Korean Civil Society members and organizations can help us to pursue the truth and accountability measures in a structured way.

3. The May18 Memorial can come forward to help us build a collaborative Museum of democratic struggle and Monsoon Revolution in Bangladesh.

4. Inviting a group of young leaders in Korea to have an immersive orientation and practical knowhow for a week to share their experience and learn from Korean civil societies to know and do the above things.

 

After receiving the email, Ms. Lee, Go-Eun asked for help from Peace MOMO, the Democracy Movement Memorial Association, and Muyong Shin, and Muyong Shin agreed to invite two student representatives from Bangladesh to Korea.

 

 

Muyong Shin formed a sister organization, <Solidarity for Bangladesh>, led by Ms. Lee, Go-Eun, and asked her to be in charge of inviting student representatives of the Monsoon Revolution. With Mr. Zahir's help, Solidarity for Bangladesh selected two student representatives.

 

Ms. Samia Akther from Dhaka University (law, graduate school) and Mr. Rahman Johan from BRAC University (anthropology, photographer) are appointed. They have been leaders of the student movement during the Monsoon Revolution and will be visiting South Korea from November 4-11 with Mr. Zahir.

 

 

While Mr. Zahir will be visiting Korea at the invitation of the Democracy Movement Memorial Project, Ms. Samia Akter and Mr. Rahman Johan's invitation was supported by Solidarity for Bangladesh.

 

The cost of their visit was calculated to be 4.5 million won, including airfare and lodging, and <Solidarity for Bangladesh> started a fundraising campaign. It decided that it would be most meaningful to have Korean citizens sponsor their invitation.

 

 

This is how <Solidarity for Bangladesh> was formed, declared support for the Monsoon Revolution, and started fundraising activities.

 

We sincerely ask the citizens of the Republic of Korea to participate in the fundraising campaign with a donation of $10 (or more) so that Ms. Samia Aktor and Mr. Rahman Johan can visit Korea and fulfill their purpose. Thank you.

 

Fundraising Account: Kakao Bank, 7979-77-26093 (SFB, Ms. Lee, Go-Eun)

Fundraising Period: October 11, 2024 - November 3, 2024

Fundraising goal: 4.5 million won (7 days and 8 nights for two student representatives of the Monsoon Revolution)

Crowdfunding: https://www.ohmycompany.com/reward/15728

방글라데시의 [몬순혁명]을 지지합니다.

 

 

==================================

(Full text of Zahir's email)

Greetings from Bangladesh! Hope this email finds you well.

 

I'm so delighted to share that finally we got rid of the despot reigning and ravaging Bangladesh for the last 15 years! Now, we are passing through a momentous change after the successful mass uprising on 5th August 2024 that forced the autocrat to resign and flee from the country. She is now hiding in India!

 

The student-people led Monsoon revolution has presented us with a historic opportunity to reimagine and rewrite the formation of a new political chapter. As a civil rights activist, and your friend, I'm proud to share that I have been very active during the movement and coordinated the student leaders at the forefront of this revolution. It was the best experience of my life, even though I had to go through ordeals of security crackdown and nightmarish situations!

 

Before she left the country in the span of one month, the tyrant killed nearly one thousand people, thousands were severely injured and many more of the protesters are still traumatized. We are trying to collect the names, document the stories and wish to preserve this glorious history of our democratic struggle.

 

As you know in Korea CSO played an important role in initiating institutional mechanisms to find truths, seek accountability and instill the spirit to nurture ethos and sensibilities for the generations to come. Having this knowledge and exposure, I couldn’t think of any better place to seek advice and suggestions to undertake a formal approach for Bangladesh so that we can also begin a process to do similar work in preserving and cultivating the aspiration of the heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for democracy, freedom and justice.

 

And, this will also be an occasion to renew people to people ties between Bangladesh and Korea. In this regard, I would like to request few things:

 

1. It would be a great help, if PSPD/May18 or other like minded organizations come forward to help us make a systematic documentation of the events.

 

2. Korean Civil Society members and organizations can help us to pursue the truth and accountability measures in a structured way.

 

3. The May18 Memorial can come forward to help us build a collaborative Museum of democratic struggle and Monsoon Revolution in Bangladesh.

 

4. Inviting a group of young leaders in Korea to have an immersive orientation and practical knowhow for a week to share their experience and learn from Korean civil societies to know and do the above things.

 

These are my preliminary thoughts; I can expand on, given the interest and scope to explore a partnership. Will appreciate your kind help and advice in this regard.

 

Best,