Biharis embark on new era

It was a watershed day yesterday for the Biharis in Bangladesh as for the first time since independence they cast votes in a general election here.
Stranded and stripped of franchise since 1971, they swore allegiance to the country only recently and became voters.
And here it is. The new beginning they had long been longing for.
They know one election is not going to change their ghetto life overnight. However, it does not take the edge off the sheer excitement they feel as voters and above all citizens of this country.
The turnout of the Urdu speaking voters in Mohammadpur and Mirpur, the areas where they are mainly concentrated in, was noticeable.
Roving about the areas, this correspondent saw hundreds of Biharis queuing in front of Shaheed Abu Taleb High School. Their body language said it all. They beamed with joy as they inched towards the ballot booth.
Seventy-year-old Abdul Sattar, who voted twice before Bangladesh's birth in 1971, was among those lining up.
He said, “It's amazing to have at last a national identity. It feels even greater especially when I know my end is near. That I'd ever be able to say 'this is my country' before I die was way beyond my expectation.”
Coming out of the polling centre, Md Yusuf, 63, said, "We are well past our time. We had suffered a lot for our decisions in the past. However, it's better late than never. We are happy that as proud citizens of this country our children can now stake out claims to better days."
Mithun, a 20-year-old Bihari, said, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could have the right to vote."
As the old-timers went to vote with the hope of a better life for their next generations, the young ones sought to choose representatives they trust would work for their social and economic rehabilitation.
Azad, a 22-year-old butcher in Geneva Camp of Mohammadpur, said, “We hope the inhuman conditions we live in will be over gradually."
Many other youths echoed his words.
Throughout the day yesterday, the city's Bihari camps pulsated with excitement. The day was to usher in a new era for the Biharis, who once were known as stranded Pakistanis.
In the past elections, voting would mean nothing to them. This all has changed after the caretaker government granted them citizenship--to be registered as voters-- following a High Court order in May.
"This time we were very busy campaigning for the candidates of our choice,” said Selim, a voter of the camp.
Locals in the camp alleged that some community leaders had tried to dissuade them from being enrolled as voters.
They sought to convince the community that they would lose the provision for free water and electricity supplies and even be evicted from the Geneva Camp if they accept Bangladeshi citizenship.
However, their campaign misled a few like Abul Quashem, 55, who opted not to register as voters.
Quashem said, "I chose not to be a voter, and now I regret the decision.”