Protesting for the right cause

Bangladesh is no stranger to protests. From city squares to village fields, protests are a common sight! We block roads, chant slogans, and wave placards. If protesting were an Olympic sport, we would be finalists every year. 

However, if we look closely, we will see that most protests seem to be focused on narrow, group-specific demands. 

For instance, students might protest for a re-evaluation of failed exam papers, the removal of challenging questions from exams, or the renaming of their college to a university. Professionals often go on strike to demand additional benefits related to their job grades. Political activists march to support their party's slogans. Even the Bangla Tesla drivers have protested, seeking free passes to drive anywhere, through any lane, and from either side of the road!

Each cause may be loud and sometimes violent, disrupting our daily lives, but these protests are usually limited in scope. What we rarely witness is a protest that addresses the national interest.

Take agriculture, for example.

According to studies, nearly 34% of Bangladesh's agricultural output is lost before reaching consumers, resulting in an economic cost of approximately 4% of our GDP. These losses do not stem from laziness; instead, they occur because farmers lack access to technology, infrastructure, and storage facilities.

A crop capable of feeding millions often rots before it even reaches the market. Yet our farmers —the very individuals who feed us—rarely take to the streets to demand systemic change.

Imagine if they did so—not by blocking ambulances, breaking glass, or looting shops, but in a peaceful manner.

Imagine farmers marching to BUET and other engineering and technology institutions, requesting our brightest engineers to design affordable harvesting tools, agriculture-focused apps, and storage technologies.

Imagine them rallying in front of the Roads and Highways Department or the Ministry of Shipping, demanding better transport to prevent crop loss during transit.

Imagine them gathering before the Ministry of Agriculture, insisting on modern storage facilities to save the nation's food.

This would be a protest not just for a specific group, but for everyone. A farmer's request for better storage is not only about improved profit margins; it's about ensuring food security, stabilising prices, and strengthening the national economy. It is a cause that unites us all.

Bangladesh has never lacked passion—it is evident in the streets every week. But passion without direction achieves little or nothing. If even a fraction of that energy were redirected towards pressing issues such as food security, clean air, safe water, or waste management, we could begin to address problems that affect every citizen, regardless of their political affiliation, profession, or social class. This redirection could lead to a brighter and more secure future for all. 

Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves: Are we protesting for the right causes? Or are we so busy fighting for our own interests that we have forgotten the foundation that supports us all?

If farmers ever decide to protest for their rightful access to technology, infrastructure, and resources, I, for one, would stand beside them. Because their protest would not be solely for themselves, it would be for our entire nation.

Shafiq R Bhuiyan is a storyteller who examines the intersection of social progress, effective communication, cultural development, and corporate social responsibility while sharing insights to inspire change. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.