Love is only answer to violence, hatred: Shafik Rehman

World Valentine's Day is observed in Bangladesh on 14 February in a blend of Western and native culture. 

The idea of Valentine's Day in this country comes from the West. On this day, love is expressed towards the beloved through the exchange of flowers and gifts like chocolates, clothes and so on.

"I have always wanted every family, every relationship to be full of all kinds of love, so that there will be no violence, revenge and hatred between people," journalist Shafik Rehman, who has made the Western Valentine's Day popular in Bangladesh, by celebrating it as 'Bhalobasa Dibos'.

Shafik Rehman, the founding editor of the once widely circulated and popular weekly 'Jai Jai Din' (currently the editor of Jai Jai Din Pratidin), brought out a separate issue called 'Bhalobasha Dibosh' in his weekly in 1993. Since then, Valentine's Day has been celebrated all over the country.

On the occasion of Valentine's Day, Shafiq Rehman recently talked to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) senior correspondent Selina Sheuli.

BSS: From what plan did you prioritize the issue of celebrating Valentine's Day in Bangladesh?

Shafik Rehman: I witnessed many massacres in my childhood. Among them, the notable events were the incidents at the end of World War II in 1944. Another was the 'Great Calcutta Riot' in 1946. These had a very negative impact on me. I have always been against death and the death penalty. My argument is that you can give people everything, but do not give them the death penalty. I do not support these. I think that the only answer to all violence, unrest, hatred, malice and revenge is still love. If you love someone, then you cannot kill them. Humans are the only animals that kill their own kind. Human beings and civilisation change -- that is the truth. So, human beings have to change. That is where human progress lies.
 
BSS: The celebration of Valentine's Day in Bangladesh started with your hand, from what thought did you make such a decision?

Shafik Rehman: Even though I have been out of the country for a long time, I have always felt a sense of responsibility towards the country and its people. I felt that there needed to be a stable situation in the country. The division between people needs to be removed. The people of the country need peace. I thought that peace needed to be brought to this country. Everyone needs to be tolerant and non-violent. So, we need to start with love. In 1992, I started publishing the daily newspaper. In 1993, I published the first Love issue. After thinking about various things, I chose February 14 as a special day but in a slightly different way. I did not name it Valentine's Day.

In the West, Valentine's Day is limited to lovers, husbands and wives. I thought that Valentine's Day in Bangladesh would be celebrated following the native culture. It will be a day of love for everyone. I told my colleagues that the greatest love relationship is the relationship between a mother and a son. I saw whether educated or uneducated people use words like "Mayer Doai Cholilam" in their CNG-run auto-rickshaws, rickshaws, buses, trucks, banners, shops or billboards as all revolve around mother. This is the only true relationship where there is no self-interest. Where a child loves his mother, the mother loves her child. 

Even if they have a loving relationship with their father, they sometimes get locked into conflict with him. The only relationship between mother and child is above all interests. So, Valentine's Day should be given a family form. That is why I thought of celebrating it as 'Bhalobasha Dibash' instead of Western Valentine's Day.