O My Homeland'

From the perspective of a middle-class Bangladeshi girl, Land has different meanings to me. When I hear it in English I start to think about my homeland, Bangladesh. I feel proud to belong to this land which is achieved by the sacrifice of 30 million people in 1971. My heart sings “O my golden Bangle, I love you.” Besides the translated form of ‘Land’ to bangle ‘Jomi’ brings a view of green paddy field in a tiny village of Chittagong.

I see every drop of sweat is mixing with the soil when the farmer cultivates land which may not belong to him but still he loves it. The land full of food economically helps as father, provides meal every day like my mother, it hugs and carries me when I sleep and walk on it. The land is so much to me because once my father explained me that I got the identity of being Bangladeshi for it. On the other hand, the land is like an enemy to me because it takes away many people’s life. One of my uncles betrays his brother for a piece of land.

I ask to the paddy field: Only for identity I do not need you land, I need peace. Please, land do not take away my brother, do not make any war.

The land answers me: I never complain to you when you dig me, waste me. I always want to take care of you my child.