Ziauddin Liton

While the world remains focused on technological revolutions, climate change, and economic recovery, smoke trails have once again darkened the skies of the Middle East.

Israel and Iran—two nations with a long, bitter history of hostility—have now entered into direct conflict.

In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, striking Iran’s nuclear facility with a powerful explosion. Within an hour, Iran retaliated under Operation True Promise III, unleashing drones and missiles deep into Israeli territory. A war that began between two states is now engulfing people—those who never asked for conflict, yet are paying the ultimate price.

Shadows Behind the Conflict: 

This is not an impulsive clash.

It is the eruption of years of mistrust, strategic fear, and military rivalry.

Israel has long accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program. Since the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), tensions have steadily escalated.

Iran, on the other hand, insists on its sovereign right to self-defense and regional security.

Its influence in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen—through aligned militias—combined with Israel’s preemptive strikes, has kept the region on edge.

At the Heart of War: 

Ordinary People Amid the power games of geopolitics, it is the common people who suffer the most.

In the streets of Tehran and Tel Aviv, fear is now the daily reality.

Schools have closed. Hospitals are overwhelmed. Food prices have soared.

A mother crouches in a bunker, covering her child’s ears to block out the sound of bombs.

An elderly woman, breathless with panic, asks, “What did we do to deserve this?”

Yes, soldiers fall in battle—but it is society that becomes paralyzed. The farmer who worked his field yesterday is now a refugee.

The taxi driver who once bought bread each morning now has no home. Human beings—the bedrock of civilization—now stand bloodied, voiceless, and afraid.

Bangladesh and the Humanitarian Fallout: 

Millions of Bangladeshi migrant workers are employed across the Middle East.

This conflict brings fear, uncertainty, and risk to their lives and livelihoods.

Some are sending their families home. Others can no longer afford to send money back due to economic disruption.

Bangladesh must act swiftly—through diplomacy and protective measures—to safeguard its citizens abroad.

Meanwhile, global oil price surges and supply chain interruptions are hitting Bangladesh’s economy hard, especially affecting food imports and inflation.

The lower- and middle-income classes are bearing the brunt.

Is War Only Between States?

Governments may harbor enmity, but their people do not.

A poet in Tehran writes about love; an artist in Tel Aviv dreams of peace. Yet when leaders stoke the flames of hatred, it is the tears of children that try to douse the fire. Whether a state wins a war is uncertain.

What is certain is that humanity always loses—and loses first.

Conclusion: A Word Greater Than a Bomb—“Forgiveness”

A single bomb can kill. A drone can destroy a city.

But forgiveness, diplomacy, and the courage to reconcile—can save countless lives and reshape the future.

No one knows when this war will end. But its outcome still depends on a few bold leaders, a few courageous decisions, and the resilience of people who still believe in peace. We—writers, readers, and ordinary citizens—are not exempt from responsibility. Let us rewrite this story—not in smoke and ruin, but in the light of peace.

Let that be our pledge.

Let that be our prayer.

The writer is a teacher journalist and columnist.He can be reached at email litonsir12@gmail.com