ISHRAT

Independence

Bangladesh, after endless turmoil, much bloodshed, and a double detachment – first from India in 1947 (to become East Pakistan) and then from Pakistan – became independent on March 26, 1971.

My dad died early, but he always wanted me to study. I majored in social sciences and then I earned a master’s degree. Ever since I was a child he wanted me to be free. And that’s what I want to be: an independent Bangladeshi.

When I was 22, I got married and two years later my husband came to Italy where his brother was already living. We had a plan, to raise the level of our possibilities to imagine a better future for our children. So in 2014, I joined my husband. I was getting by. But when Ayan was born I had to leave everything behind, we have no grandparents, relatives or friends. Now he goes to school and I’m a little freer.

But not independent.

That’s why sometimes I feel lonely, sad. Because I studied, fulfilled my dreams, and what do I end up with? Wouldn’t it have been better to stay at home? What am I here? “Let me go back – I say to my husband – I’m going with the child to Bangladesh.” Then I get back to my senses, I think about my son’s future, Italy is the right country. He is already a little man, independent.