The country is in crisis due to conflict and violence centered around the quota reform movement. Although the curfew is slowly being relaxed, the fear is not over. Politicians are blaming each other for the massive loss of life and sabotage. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader told Samakal in a private interview about the situation.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir commented that the silence of neighboring countries India and China on the issue of students’ logical movement has raised questions in people’s minds. He hopes that these two countries, like the United Nations and other countries of the world, will take a stand for the students and people of Bangladesh. At the same time, law enforcement and administration will stand by the people by refraining from following the unjust orders of the government.
He said these things in an exclusive interview given to Samakal at his residence in Gulshan on Friday.
At the same time, he said, the government may think that the situation has been controlled by the massive loss of life, arrest operations and closure of educational institutions; Actually it is not. Because they do not go to the real place, the crisis is created. They don’t want to understand the writing on the wall.
Samakal: What is the way out of the current crisis?
Mirza Fakhrul: The government should resign immediately to overcome the ongoing crisis. After that on the basis of national consensus free and fair elections should be taken under the neutral government during the election period. Consensus must be built like in the ’90s. The movement of the students did not stop. People will soon remove this government from power and demand their rights.
Samakal: What is your assessment of the controversial situation on the quota reform issue?
Mirza Fakhrul: This time the situation is very terrible. Just like the crackdown in 1971, the forces of the government pounced on the students. Similarly, political opponents have been attacked. The manner in which quota reform activists have been killed is unprecedented. We have not seen such incidents in independent Bangladesh. In this situation, democratic and constitutional rights have been completely destroyed. Unfortunately the speeches of the ministers are horribly fascist, which can never bode well for the country.
Samakal: How do you see the role of law enforcement?
Mirza Fakhrul : The law and order forces have acted as per the instructions of the government. But the duty of the patriotic army and law enforcement forces and the officers and employees of the republic is to protect the country, democracy and the people. To fulfill the responsibilities constitutionally assigned to them. It is not their responsibility to protect any group or individual. Shooting like this to kill us and their own children is not acceptable. We hope they will refrain from these things.
Samakal: What about Awami League’s complaint that it tried to topple the BNP-Jamaat government by ‘relying’ on the quota movement?
Mirza Fakhrul: They always see poker. He is always blaming BNP for doing so many misdeeds in Dhaka. So why did the students take to the streets? We have heard that among the coordinators of the movement are the boys of Chhatra League. Now it is not just about any one party. It is a matter of liberating the whole nation to escape from this fascist government. We have always demanded the removal of the government. It is our right as a democratic party to protest.
Samakal : BNP has promised to give ‘moral support’ to the quota reform movement. But the government is alleging that the BNP-Jamaat has mainly caused the violent incidents.
Mirza Fakhrul : They always bracket BNP-Jamaat. This is part of their political strategy. We have given moral support to the students’ movement. Ghaibi Janaza was performed at Baitul Mukarram Mosque in memory of the victims, there was a barrier. After that, I called a rally across the country, including in front of the National Press Club. The rally was dispersed by police, RAB, tear gas and sound grenades from helicopters. Killing opposition party workers, making mass arrests and spreading propaganda. Not just the opposition; Do you all know how the students who were coordinators were picked up and tortured and tortured? Students are telling the media that they are running away. The government has completely mistreated the students. But they were told that there will be no case, arrest and torture.
The involvement of BNP is being talked about, it is a political trick. They killed hundreds of students and people. Now they want to cover their fault. Violence has caused their people. Now Udo wants to press Pindi on Budho’s neck. It always did, still does. Evidence of this has also been found. A Sramik League leader in Chittagong gave money to the driver.
Samakal: But at the field level, BNP and organizational leaders have become directly involved with the student movement. A Chhatra Dal leader was killed in Chittagong and many others were injured in different places including Dhaka.
Mirza Fakhrul: It is not unusual. The demands of students as students are also related to the interests of Chhatra Dal workers. Secondly, because of the accumulated anger of the people – misrule, corruption, increase in the prices of goods, prosecution without a crime. A case has been filed against 60 lakh BNP activists. Naturally they can also be involved in the movement. Today it has become a people’s movement i.e. mass movement.
Samakal : Initially there were only students on the streets, later people from other professions also came down and there was a scene of involvement in anarchy?
Mirza Fakhrul : Yes, later it turned into a mass movement. Students have been expelled from Dhaka University, while students from private universities, Shaheen School, Vikarunnisa Noon School have also been expelled. A situation like a public coup has been created. Even primary and high school students are coming out – no one has called them. They took to the streets as the interests of students, masses and workers are involved.
Samakal: How do you see the judicial inquiry committee being tasked with investigating only six murders on the first day, despite over two hundred deaths in the violence?
Mirza Fakhrul: The death toll for us is more than five hundred. No move by the government is without intention and is an eyewash. Where there are hundreds of deaths, there is no justification for investigating only six. They are still not stopping the killing. Now they are doing ‘block raids’ across the country including Dhaka at night by taking advantage of evening law. Arresting hundreds of people, which is getting some media coverage. They don’t want it to come completely. When it comes to the media, it is accused of being anti-state.
Samakal: You have demanded the formation of an international investigation committee. What is your assessment of the international community’s response to the emerging situation?
Mirza Fakhrul: There has been a strong reaction all over the world. Expatriate Bangladeshis have staged massive protests in the US, the UK, the United Nations – and even in Middle Eastern countries, which have been seen by all in the newspapers even if not on social media. On the other hand, the statements made by the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union clearly show how worried they are. Even the statement given by the Chief Minister of the neighboring country, Mamata Banerjee, can be understood, what is happening in Bangladesh? How worried the world conscience is today!
Samakal: What is your opinion about the role of central government in India?
Mirza Fakhrul: Role of Government of India What we always expect is that as a large democratic country they will have a fair role to protect the democracy, democratic movement and rights of any neighboring country. They can talk about it. Unfortunately India has not said anything about it so far. A sadness remains in the minds of the people of this country, the question remains – why is India silent? The spokesperson of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also avoided answering the journalist’s questions and gave a tactful answer. This means they are avoiding the issue so far. But countries around the world have expressed concern about a position. Our hope for India is undoubtedly that they will take a stand for democracy. We still hope that India will support Bangladeshi students’ logical movement, people’s movement for democracy and good governance.
Samakal: Say something about China’s role?
Mirza Fakhrul: China has made a statement. However, it did not go completely in favor of the students’ movement. China is a large democratic country. A revolutionized country. People should have them. Hope they clarify the position for the people.
Samakal: The UN statement called for the release of the full list of casualties in the student movement. This is the student and you also demanded?
Mirza Fakhrul: Everyone is demanding to publish the list but the government is not doing it. Vehicles emblazoned with the UN logo were used to suppress such movements. Said again by mistake. We hope that the United Nations will monitor these issues well.
SAMAKAL: The government is promising financial compensation to the dead and injured and future employment to the family members. Do you have any specific demands?
Mirza Fakhrul: I and my party do not expect much from this government. Because, it is an anti-people government. They assured not to file a case against the students. Now they are suing the students. They can’t stay at home.
Samakal : Dichotomy between the leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement has come in the media. What is your opinion on this?
Mirza Fakhrul: The government tried in the beginning. The coordinator tried to create a dichotomy by picking up a few, but could not. Now they are all united in the statements they are making. They did not budge from their original demands.
Samakal: How do you see the loss of life and the destruction of buildings and looting in the movement?
Mirza Fakhrul: I do not know where the robbery happened! If anything happened, it was done by government party people. Arson and vandalism were committed by their supporters to sabotage the movement. They have done these activities to take the movement in the wrong direction i.e. to bring it to the present state. It did so very quickly. The incidents took place when the protesters were leaving the university hall.
Samakal: BNP will give a new program?
Mirza Fakhrul : Now the government is not allowing programs to be carried out anywhere. The program has been banned in Dhaka. I will give a new program when the environment and conditions are created.
Samakal: Thank you for the interview.
Mirza Fakhrul: Thanks Samakal too.