Dilrook Kannangara

Comparing Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is wrong. The level of violence and ethnic composition are totally different in the two nations. Sri Lanka was economically bankrupt, had given up repaying loans and had 2 years and 1 quarter of negative economic growth when Aragalaya commenced. On the other hand, the Bangladeshi economy was doing far better when its people rose. However, there is one key similarity between violent sections of both countries during their struggles.

A disproportionately large number of violent people in Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya belonged to a certain creed and they are the ones causing all violence in Bangladesh too. The brutal decapitation and killing of a MP while chanting extremist religious chants, burning buses and beating rival people in Slave Island, burning some houses and businesses belonging to certain politicians and assaulting state television employees were carried out by this group of people. Among the arrested for violence in 2022 there is a disproportionately large group of people belonging to this particular creed. Over 90% of Bangladesh is made up of them too. That’s the main reason for Bangladesh’s extreme violence.

Sri Lanka gained Independence without bloodshed and violence where Bangladeshi Independence was marked by extreme violence by all sides. Since Independence a number of leaders were killed and the military took over power in Bangladesh further expanding its violent past.

What is most concerning is the violent future of Bangladesh. Extremist groups have already targeted ethnic Hindus and they have made it clear they will contest planned elections. If free and fair elections are held, extremists will make a grand entry into Bangladeshi parliament. The difference in the scale of violence in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is of a factor of 10% to 90% for this reason. That is nine (9) times. Fortunately, Sri Lanka is not that unfortunate as Bangladesh which led to a peaceful transition of power once the three main slogans of Aragalaya people were met