It was January 2001. I was the lone diplomat in Akiab of Arakam city of Sittway. That city did not have any government office of any country. There was no light. Eventually, I learnt the reason of this darkness from the local men. In some moment of rage, Myanmar’s Military Ruler General Ne Win proclaimed a decree: “One should not open the eyes of animals.” In the simplest term, it means that there should not be any light for the people of Rakhine. This deprivation of light for the Rakhine means they should not have any access to education, health, knowledge, science, etc. The decision was immediately executed. Everything was closed: no education, no treatment facilitiess. The whole of Arakan became subjected to the darkness of knowledge, as if the pitch-dark night befell on then in broad day light!
Just like the routine of other days, I was busy with household chores and office activities. One of my Burmese translators informed me about a person who has come to Akiab to look for his son’s bride. He also told me that the man holds a British passport. I told my translator to invite him in my office for tea when he sees him the next time.
Upon that invitation, the man, an inhabitant of Mungdo, came to my office at ten o’ clock the following day. He went to London with his wife in pursuit of his higher education in medicine in the 70s. On completion of his studies, when he was about to return to the country, he came to know about the unbearable cruelties of the military upon the civilians. Instantly, he made up his mind to stay back in London instead of coming back to his country. A long time elapsed. In the meantime, one of his two sons fell in love with a Turkish woman and married her. He yearned to get his other son married to a Rohinga girl. Accordingly, he was trying to get the name and address of a suitable Rohinga girl who he eventually wanted to enroll in a medical college in London.
Till that period, he progressed well in the pursuit of his dream. Troubles popped up when the application was put up for that girl’s passport. The Burmese passport authority clearly stated that no passport should be processed for any Rohinga. The person fell into a nightmare after being refused. While taking tea, he gave me a sorrowful look and said, “My father is buried in Mongdu”. He continued saying, “I have requested them time and again to allow me to visit my father’s grave, but all went in vain.” His eyes were moistened. I tried to console him saying, “May Lord accept your tearful eyes and grant your father eternal peace in paradise”.
Next he started talking about his son’s bride to be. Here, he was equally frustrated..He could not get a passport for that girl despite repeated efforts. The gentleman was tired and dejected. I was deeply looking at the man’s face and was pondering as to how a person is failing to just visit his father’s grave ; nor he is getting a passport for his son’s bride-to-be.
I asked the gentleman to take out his passport. In trembling hands, he showed me his passport. At that moment, I rather surprised him by saying, “I am issuing a visa for Bangladesh in your passport; you better go to Bangladesh.” He glanced at me with widened eyes. I added one more daring adventure in my life. I told the gentleman, “Before you leave for Bangladesh, give an address to the girl and go away via Teknaf. After reaching Bangladesh, get a passport for the girl. Then you can get a British visa and leave for London”. Before leaving my office, he enquired if I had any relatives in London. I gave him the address of my wife’s younger sister with a small gift. He took leave and expressed gratefulness while shaking hands with me, almost in utter disbelief.
After many days, the gentleman rang me from London to invite me to his son’s marriage. The bride was that little girl. I felt exceedingly happy. I felt tears in my eyes out of sheer happiness.
Let us leave this story here to move to another story
This story took place in 2001. Just like our Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, two exams are held in Myanmar under the Central Management. Those who can remain in the top 100 in the merit list of HSC, they can pursue higher studies in their chosen subjects. The irony of fate is that one of the Rohingya students even occupied a position within the top ten. As per the standard rules, Rohingyas were not allowed to study in their subject of choice merely because they are Rohingyas. The Rohingyas even needed permission to move from one place to another in Myanmar. Generally, they were granted permission. However, these helpless boys who went from door to door, but they were not granted permission for higher studies.
I got the news. With the help of my translator, I asked those boys to come and meet me. Three of them came to me after a few days. I advised them to get admitted in a Technical Institute of Akiab which was run by the Japanese. They became highly glad. On the following day, I met the Japanese gentleman, the Director of the Institute, who was acquainted with me. This Japanese gentleman, prior to leaving my office, promised to admit all the five boys. The young five budding talents got admitted in the technical institute. I became so happy to be able to create some inroads in supporting their dreams.
About a week later, that Japanese gentleman came to my office in a gloomy face and informed that the Myanmar authority had asked him to either expel those five Muslim students or he should close his institute. He expressed his utter helplessness.
The following day the admission of the five students were canceled. The dreams of the five students shattered.
A few days later, I added one more adventure in my life. I contacted one of those five students, who was among the top ten. I arranged a set of military uniform for him. Clad in military uniform the boy left for Yangon to study medicine.
Days passed by. A few days later, I too left that dark city. At times, I ponder over the daughter-in-law of the doctor who had settled in London. Sadly, that girl was never to see her parents or siblings. Does she blame me in some special moments when she cannot see her next of kin? Does her brother, whom she abandoned forever, relentlessly cry for her?
Does the boy who went out to become a doctor is blaming himself by virtue of making an exceptionally brilliant result?
Does he ever blame me because I encouraged him in his dream journey? Will he come back as a doctor to Akiab with another nationality after a long time and wait to get permission to visit his father’s grave?
Major Md. Emdadul Islam (Retd.)
Major Md. Emdadul Islam is a leading authority on Bangladesh-Myanmar affairs. He was the head of Mission in sittwe, Myanmar for four years.
As a peace keeper in D R Congo, he was awarded highest commendation of Force Commander, as he carried out a successful mission in rescuing 7 Nepalese peace keeper those were taken as hostage by the Lendus, the cannibals.
In his credit he is having 10 books, those were published by the different reputed publishing houses of Bangladesh.
He is a security and military analyst and regularly contributing to the different TV channels of home and abroad.
