The Awami League regime has been dismissed due to the mass uprising of students and common people and an interim government was formed headed by Dr Muhammad Yunus. However, there’s stagnant situation prevailing in all sectors of the state including politics, economics, and judicial system.
How Bangladesh could bounce back from this situation? Reporters Shafiul Alam Dolan and Shifiqul Islam talked to the head of three important political parties in the country in this regard.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD President ASM Abdur Rab called for all possible cooperation to the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Wishing the success of this government, he said, the sooner this government can bring back democracy, the better for the country and the nation. For this a 'Free Fair National Election' should be arranged at the appropriate time.
He said all crises have ended. Now everyone should unite to build the country. First of all, we have to take control of the law and order situation. He said this an interview given to The Bangladesh Pratidin on Saturday.
ASM Rab, who hoisted the flag of independence for the first time, said, “A terrible dictatorship government of 16 years has fallen through the bloody movement of the students. With that fall, relief has returned to the people. The defeated evil forces are trying to destroy the victory of the movement of the students. The law and order situation is trying to deteriorate in various places in the name of 'robbery-game'. Every political party and organization along with students should be alert and cautious about it.”
He said that the looting, corruption and anarchy created by the Awami government, which has fallen in the face of the mass movement in the last 16 years, should be put to an end and the country should be built anew. Sheikh Hasina's government not only killed hundreds of students, they also have destroyed every democratic institution in the country and destroyed the economy and the banks. This interim government has to restructure these institutions. The interim government has to solve these tasks within the time required for this.”
The JSD president said, “Starting from martyr Abu Saeed, every murder of this students movement should be put under trial through proper investigation. Those who ordered this murder should be brought to justice immediately. Constitutional and democratic institutions should be reformed as soon as possible. If necessary, the important issues of the constitution should also be reformed.”
He also said that in this movement, the responsible person/s behind each killing should be identified. At the same time, the state should provide adequate compensation to the families of the injured, including taking responsibility for the treatment of the injured.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagrik Oikya, said that the 16-year dictatorial rule of Sheikh Hasina has come to an end through the successful mass uprising of the students. In order to establish a humane democratic state in the future, merit, honesty and acceptance should be given priority in all fields.
The former VP of DUCSU said this in an exclusive interview with The Bangladesh Pratidin on Saturaday. Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, “The interim government should organize the national elections after the necessary reforms of the state. The way in which people of all classes and occupations of the country have been involved in this revolt under the leadership of students is rare in the history of the world. This mass uprising has united the whole of Bangladesh except the few people who are the beneficiaries of Hasina government's autocratic rule. After this mass uprising, the people of the country want to see a new Bangladesh. The mass upsurge, the fall of the dictatorial Hasina government and the establishment of an interim government were the first steps in realizing this desire.”
He said, “We expect that the interim government formed under the leadership of Dr Yunus will take effective initiatives to realize the aspirations of the people. The deterioration of the law and order situation in the country should be brought under control very quickly. In the last 16 years, all constitutional and state institutions of the country have been completely destroyed. Restructuring these institutions is the first task of the new government. The judicial department should be freed from party influence and transformed into an independent constitutional institution. The election commission and the anti-corruption commission should also be reformed. All the institutions of the state, starting from the central bank, should be freed from party influence and brought back to the people's trust. Besides, control of commodity prices, suppression of corruption, and prosecution of all crimes committed during the previous government and rule of law should be established in the country. Necessary steps must be taken to rebuild the battered economy. After completing necessary reforms at all levels of the state, the interim government will arrange for a free, fair, impartial and participatory election based on consultation with stakeholders.”
He said that the interim government should take the first step to implement the expectation that the people of the country gave their lives to bring down the dictatorial government through mass uprising. Civic unity will support the initiative of the interim government in the structural reforms of the state.
Gano Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque Nur said that people have high expectations from the interim government. They formed the government with the mandate of the people. They should talk to all political parties and decide what to do next.
The former VP of DUCSU said this in an interview with The Bangdesh Pratidin on Saturday. Nurul Haque Nur said, “India gave unanimous support to Sheikh Hasina in the elections of 2014, 2018, 2024. While the whole world is talking about democracy in Bangladesh, India is desperate to bring Hasina to power. I will say to our neighboring country India, you should maintain normal relations with us. Don't ruin a relationship for a party. Hopefully, this government will work with the people. However, not all tasks can be completed. State institutions need to be restored. The money smugglers from Bangladesh must be brought to justice by this government.”
Nur also said that when the students made the country independent through the revolution, a group of people are conducting anarchy. They are occupying different parts of the country, looting— all these are aimed at thwarting the revolution of the students. Therefore, I will ask the students to form neighborhood-by-neighborhood resistance committees to prevent anarchy. These anarchies are not being done by the Gano Odhikar Parsihad or BNP-Jamaat. Whoever is doing it, law enforcement should identify them and bring them to justice.
He said, “In the last 15 years, the authoritarian regime of Awami League has destroyed all the institutions including the Election Commission, Judiciary, ACC, Human Rights Commission etc. If we hold an election overnight without reforming these institutions, we will not get the Bangladesh of our desired dream. At this moment, there is a need to reform all government sectors including constitutional institutions.”
He said there is no more conflict with the police. It is our responsibility to protect them. I want to say to the minority community that we are with you. You will not suffer from insecurity. Let us all establish unity and solidarity. Let us all unite and play a role in building the country as a developed state by creating awareness among the people. No more Sheikh Hasina can be allowed to be created in this Bangladesh.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on August 10 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
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