Shazzad Khan

I have been a social development worker for more than 30 years. My attachment with Dr Abul Barkat Sir forged around 2006 when I got engaged with Khas land projects supported by UKAID. For the sake of data and information, the publications of Barkat Sir were of immense help. Unfortunately, neither the government nor any research institutions had authentic, reliable and informative data on Khas land issues or land issues in general.

Not only that, this gentleman had a number of authentic and informative research publications on Dalit issues, vested property, land market, land litigation, religious minority, economic justice, poverty analysis, disability, etc. All these publications were great sources for planning our grassroots development projects for the marginalised communities implemented by the NGOs.

However, I really came face to face with Dr Barkat when we planned to review all the existing land laws of Bangladesh and proposed a set of revised ones from a pro-poor, rights-based and women-centric perspective. It was 2010-2012. UKAID financed this massive project, which was a herculean task for us, led by Barkat Sir. It was only during this time that I realised how sincere a researcher he could be. He and his team from his research organisation HDRC plunged into an ocean of all the existing land laws, policies, rules, ordinances and government orders. The number came to over 2500.

As coordinator of the project from a rights organisation, I saw how meticulously, sincerely and devotedly he and his team immersed themselves into such a gargantuan task, keeping in mind that no flaws should creep in. Not only that, this gentleman was so accountable that he used to report to an advisory group of 20 veteran land experts from NGOs and the government. Eventually, when the review was completed and a set of 20 revised land law volumes were proposed, the government’s land and law ministry officials became spellbound.

I still remember Suranjit Sengupta and the land secretary commending in a seminar that this type of work was not possible even by the government. Then, over 2400 pages in 20 volumes of publications encompassing all aspects of land laws in Bangladesh were published and became a single source of authentic information for the revision of mundane land laws. The land ministry still counts on these revisions.

Afterwards, seeing him passionate about ingenuity, I became his fan and used to read his resourceful publications. Whenever I got time, I used to listen to his teachings, ideas and innovations. Although he was not my direct teacher, I took him as my mentor for learning. My subsequent attachment with him revealed one very genuine fact – this man can’t be dishonest or deceitful. In Bangladesh, finding an honest and ethical man is like a lifetime endeavour, and my discovery of Barkat Sir was like a rare success.

I often found him standing beside the plight of Dalits, Adivasis, Hindu minorities and many other marginalised communities. He is a voice for the marginalised. Although he had great respect for Bangabandhu, he used to say that the governance failure of the government (then Awami League 2009-2024) was the root cause of the distress and wretchedness of marginalised people.

He showed how Hindu minorities left this country, and that the major numbers were during the AL tenures. He used to be very candid in saying that the Hindus in Bangladesh lost their land due to the AL goons’ intimidation. His fundamental concern was the governance failure of both the AL and BNP governments, which was and is the absolute reality of Bangladesh.

Dr Barkat also led a ground-breaking research work in 2021-22 to devise the Marginalised Indexes for Bangladesh. This first-of-its-kind study was financed by UKAID, covering 24 marginalised communities of Bangladesh.

He wrote in this publication that “these communities, including Dalits, Harijans, fisher-folk, sex workers, marginal landless farmers, people with disabilities, Adivasis and Char & Haor dwellers, endure grave human rights violations, exploitation, violence, deprivation and displacement. The institutional framework of democracy, promotion of human rights and good governance, engagement of rights defenders in favour of the oppressed and working for social justice are on the ebb. Among several rights violations, the right to life and liberty is severely threatened, resulting in the shrinking of civic spaces.” He was dead against crude capitalism and imperialism.

I, as the coordinator of this research, was only wondering that Dr Barkat had become the “Noam Chomsky” of Bangladesh and might not escape the stern looks of any political government, because what he had articulated is applicable to all. Therefore, he would have to face harassment by any government in power – be it AL, BNP or Jamaat.

And this is exactly what has happened in the last couple of days. A solid gentleman, highly educated in socialist principles and intrepid in facing any crude challenge, was picked up from his house and landed in custody. I only wonder – why should he be arrested? He is so dignified, honest and self-respecting that he would never flee like the coward politicians of this country.

If there were at all any allegations against him, he could have been questioned at his house – although I don’t believe there is any genuine allegation against him. However, he was arrested by those who wanted to show off that they could take sadistic pleasure in humiliating a genuinely educated, upright and honest man. This has become the trend in this country.

About 2500 years ago, Socrates said – Such a time will come when educated people will repent for being educated and the illiterate people will rejoice for being in power and doing criminal activities. Haven’t those days arrived?

The writer  is a social development worker.