Last year’s July-August mass uprising is conspicuously different from all the previous forcible regime changes in the country’s history for one particular reason: the spontaneous involvement of people from all walks of life. The July-August mass upsurge saw not only students but also workers and people from other economically marginalised communities. The memorial plaque at Jatrabari bears testimony to this fact as it holds the names of factory workers, day labourers, rickshaw pullers and others.
The political parties waged movement against Sheikh Hasina’s fascist rule for more than a decade, but it was the involvement of general people in 2024 that truly brought success. The general people participated with the demand of not simply changing the government, but the entire pro-fascist state mechanism. With this demand, the people showed the path to breaking free from the 53 years of oppressive rule and exploitation.
The Jatiya Nagorik Committee has been founded with the goal reflect and realise people’s demand in state mechanisms, and to this end the group has been liaising between the people and the interim government.
Previous regime changes were enforced by political parties. Their political movement became necessary time and again as following the country’s independence, in which nearly 30 lakh people embraced martyrdom, the country fell under the grip of fascist rule.
After nearly 20 years, the political parties managed to restore democracy through mutual understanding. But the country again suffered over 15 years of Awami League fascist rule, which ended with the July mass uprising. Due to the repeated return of fascist rule, despite movement by political parties, we now want to put people at the centre of their own demand to build a new political structure. To reflect people’s aspirations in state functions, a new political party is a need of the time. On our part, we have sent a clear message to the existing political parties and countrymen: the mistakes of 1971 and 1991 political upheavals will not be repeated.
To this end, before holding any general elections we have demanded justice against the culprits behind July-August massacre. An elected political government could seek to politically exploit the trials. The trials could themselves become questionable under a political government. A non-political government – like the one currently led by Prof Muhammad Yunus – gives credibility to the trial process. Through the fall of Awami League fascism, general people’s political consciousness and preference for a people-centred political culture have also become clear, which the political parties must also take note of.
The constitution that exploited the people for the past 53 years and pave way for Awami League’s 15-year fascist rule must be amended. Even if the current interim government cannot do it, the next elected government must.
BNP and some other political parties have said they could change the constitution if elected to power. But through the July-August uprising, people have already sent a clear message that the constitution must be changed. If needed, the people would take to streets again to realise their aspirations, and win like they always have.
We have already outlined 69 proposals for amending the charter, calling for clear distinctions between the government, parliament and political parties. We have also proposed holding direct presidential elections and forming a bicameral legislature. We also demand rectifying a 2022 law on elections for allowing fair polls.
Through the July-August uprising, people have learned to put trust on youth leadership. The elders are more likely to support the existing pro-fascist state mechanisms, and thus people have lost trust on them. Those who are unwilling to adopt changes must also be shunned. The people believe the youth can form a political party capable of realising their demands, prompting eagerness among the youth in this regard.
We are forming a political force by including all the participants of July-August movement, who are willing to work for the country rising above their party and ideological interests. We are working to compiling people’s demands and understanding for forming the new party, and have full faith on the people that they would recognise their rightful representatives.
The writer is the convener of Jatiya Nagorik Committee
