This year, I'm seeing many more posts from my Bangladeshi Facebook friends, this time commemorating the fall of Sheikh Hasina. Again, seeing these posts is so uplifting, because I see so much hope, and so much gratitude that he old dictator is gone, finally, for good. That alone gives me hope.
In writing this, I'm reminded of a line from N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy that I think of often: "Well, some worlds are built on a fault line of pain, held up by nightmares. Don't lament when those worlds fall. Rage that they were built doomed in the first place."
I am grateful my family got to spend two years in Bangladesh. It is such a special place, and full of special people. Never in my life have I been to a place where I was greeted with such hospitality and kindness.
I said so, so, so many times that the people of Bangladesh deserved SO much more than they were given. I hope they can finally get it. Joy Bangla. The country and people of Bangladesh are forever in my heart, and I hope so much that I'll be able to visit that beautiful country again.