No country is entirely free from chaos. Different efforts are, however, always there to contain the chaos and establish order in different spheres of life. A tough task, it requires continuous efforts for maintenance of norms, practice and rules. As human beings are by nature somewhat impulsive, it is the social order that helps limit the chaos. Cambridge Dictionary defined the chaos as 'a state of total confusion with no order.' According to Merriam-Webster, it is 'a complete confusion and disorder' or 'a state in which behavior and events are not controlled by anything.'
In Bangladesh, the presence of chaos in various areas and sectors is widespread, which gives an impression that people here like to live with disorder. How can a sensible community or society prefer chaotic life despite knowing the negative sides of chaos? Over the decades, people of Bangladesh have become more educated and got familiar with good manners and discipline. Nevertheless, many people in Bangladesh show apathy for orderliness.
The preference for disorderliness or chaos is most visible on the movement of people on roads. The way people in this country move, or compel others to move is height of indiscipline. Lack of decent and organised public transport is a major reason in this regard. Then walking on the streets is also messy due to absence of right infrastructure along with many barriers. Walkways are mostly occupied by street vendors and vehicles. Many pedestrians also walk and cross roads carelessly.
The list of day-to-day chaos is so long that sometime it is easy to mistake as a normal affair. For example, practice of dumping waste here and there is still common even when dustbins are available. Again, dustbins are also not maintained properly in most of the places.
Now this is entirely not the fault of people and in many cases they have to compromise with the chaotic situation. In Bangladesh, flawed systems and faulty operations of many things drive people mad and then some of them do unthinkable things out of desperation. So, many have now started to believe that in a world where change, uncertainty, and frequent reinvention have become the new norm, there is no option but to embrace chaos. It is like allowing one to be carried by the wind when the destination recedes out of sight. Some even believe that in the post-Covid era, one has to learn how to embrace the chaos if he or she wants to thrive in these times of profound change.
The widespread chaos may be considered a puzzle. Those who want to solve it may go through Bob Miglani's fascinating book titled Embrace the Chaos: How India Taught Me to Stop Overthinking and Start Living. Miglani has offered a simple solution to deal with chaos: stop trying to control or contain the chaos. To do this, one has to focus on what one can control like one’s own actions, words, and thoughts. One thus needs to move ahead with mistakes and also has to find the purpose of life. Selfishness may be a shield against the agony of chaos for many. Maybe, more people in Bangladesh are gradually turning to this direction. Or maybe, many of them turn to disorder as it helps them get out of a dull and insipid life.
