[🇧🇩] Everything about the interim government and its actions

Protesters announce Yunus's name as chief adviser of interim govt
Staff Correspondent 06 August, 2024, 04:35


Professor Muhammad Yunus. | File photo

Protesters announced Professor Muhammad Yunus's name as the chief adviser of the interim government.

In a video statement issued on early Tuesday, they said that they had already talked to Yunus and he agreed with the decision of students and people.

'We will publish other proposed names of the members of the interim government in the morning,' Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the Student Movement Against Discrimination, said, adding that different conspiracies were underway to fail their movement.​

Prof Yunus to be chief adviser of interim govt
The development comes after key organisers of student movement held a meeting with president


Photo: Collected

Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus will be the chief adviser of the interim government, said a press release of Bangabhaban yesterday.

The decision came after a meeting on the formation of the interim government between key organisers of the anti-discriminatory movement and President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The heads of the three armed forces were also present at the meeting.

Around 6:00pm, the coordinator of the students' movement entered the Bangabhaban, reports our correspondent from the spot.

At the meeting, which started around 7:00pm, the student leaders proposed the formation of an interim government headed by Prof Yunus. President Md Shahabuddin agreed with their proposal.

According to UNB, the president said the country is now passing through a transitional period. It is important to form an interim government as soon as possible to overcome this crisis.

He suggested that the nomination of other members of the Advisory Council to be finalised in consultation with political parties.

The president also suggested nominating a freedom fighter in the interim government, reports UNB.

Chief of Army Staff General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, Dhaka University Law Department Professor Asif Nazrul, International Relations Department Professor Tanjim Uddin Khan and 13 coordinators of student movement were present at the meeting.

The development came as the country is facing uncertainty after Monday's resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister in the face of a mass uprising against her and her Awami League government.

Hasina's resignation came following around three weeks of violence that had its origins in the students' demand for reform to the quota system in public service jobs. Between July 16 and yesterday (Tuesday), over 400 people (as far as this newspaper could confirm) have been killed in violent clashes.

On July 23, the government through a circular reformed the quota system as per the demand of the students, but by then nearly 200 died in clashes.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet on August 3, holding her government responsible for the deaths. The government toppled in the space of three days.

Hasina was serving her fourth straight term in office since assuming power in 2009, and fifth overall.​

Had a 'fruitful meeting' at Bangabhaban: Nahid
Says Prof Yunus sent through a minor operation on Monday, may return country today or tomorrow


Photo: TV grab

Nahid Islam, a key organiser of the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement, said that they had "a fruitful meeting" with President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

He said they also handed over a primary list of 10 to 15 people -- representatives of citizens and students -- who would be the members of the interim government.

"The list will be finalised after talking with political parties… It may take 24 hours' to finalise that," he said while talking with reporters outside the Bangabhaban after the meeting yesterday.

Nahid and 12 others organisers of the student movement and two teachers of Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul and Prof Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan as part of the four-hour meeting which started around 7:15pm. The heads of the three armed forces were also present at the meeting.

He said they got assurance that the interim government proposed by the students would be finalised.

He said the president agreed to their proposal that Prof Yunus would be nominated as the chief adviser of the interim government.

"The interim government will be formed as soon as possible, he said based on the assuarance he recieved in the meeting.

Asked about when Yunus, who is in France for the Olympics, will return to the country, Nahid said the Nobel laurate went through a minor operation yesterday.

"He [Yunus] will start for Bangladesh tomorrow (Wednesday) and may reach the country by night or next morning," he added.

"People and students were behind the uprising and it is their responsibilities to save it. We are seeing that anarchy is being spread in a concerted and planned way. Attacks are being contacted to malign the uprising," Nahid said.

He urged all to remain peaceful and take steps to save government structures and minorities.

Prof Asif Nazrul said the list of the members of the interim government will not be disclosed now as it is a primary one. Discussions on the duration of the interim government and other issued are going on, he added.

"We are going to form the government in an extraordinary situation. There are different constitutional means and customs to legalise certain actions. We will follow do that."

Chiefs of three services praised the students for their effort in maintaining traffic and guarding the places of worship of minorities, he added.​

How will the interim government shape up?


If the citizens do take the responsibility for justice, it can only be delivered through the verdict of an election. PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

It is too early to react to the speech by the army chief because he has said we will get more information on the interim government after he discusses it with the president. But one thing to note here is that he mentioned the name of a banned political party—Jamaat-e-Islami—when he said a discussion had been held with the main political parties of the country. Also, he said that he had discussed the current situation with all the big political parties of the country, which is not true. For instance, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) was not contacted.

Moreover, they did not contact the coordinators of the protesting students' platform (the Students' Movement against Discrimination). He said Prof Asif Nazrul had taken the responsibility of informing the students. These are vague comments. He said things would be clear tomorrow. As long as the demands of the quota reform movement are not fully implemented, the protesters should remain alert.

The enthusiasm seen during the current movement is unprecedented. Such enthusiasm was not even present during the 1969 Mass Uprising, which was led by an organised leadership. Although the quota reform movement does not have the same format, I have not seen any mistakes made by its leadership so far. Rather, the movement gained more public support and there does not seem to be any loss of momentum. We are witnessing the determination of very ordinary students ready to sacrifice their lives to establish their rights.

The Awami League government lost public support. To stay in power, they applied brutal force. We heard the party's general secretary's comment about Chhatra League and saw how armed ruling party goons attacked the protesters. That made the protesters angrier. Then the (former) prime minister added salt to the injury with her comments. Then six to seven people died in state-sponsored violence. Even that did not frighten the protesters. Then the indiscriminate firing started. That too could not quell the protest, rather the number of students doubled. On August 4, around 100 people died. We have not seen so many deaths of unarmed people during any movement in post-liberation Bangladesh.

The government should have called a cabinet meeting and announced their resignation. Several weeks ago, the prime minister said she would hand the responsibility of trying the perpetrators of the violence to the citizens. If the citizens do take the responsibility for justice, it can only be delivered through the verdict of an election. It was not difficult for the government to do this. This happened before, after the fall of Ershad's regime. He said he would transfer power, but there was no clear-cut process to do that. We offered to create it, and I had drafted the design of that process. So, it could have been done again this time.

Mujahidul Islam Selim is former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).​

Suggestions for interim and future govts
Abu Muhammad Zakir Hussain 07 August, 2024, 00:00

Protesters wave the national flag as they celebrate at Shahbagh on August 5. | Agence France-Presse/Munir Uz Zaman

IT WAS the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel who taught us: 'We learn from history that we do not learn from history.' What an all-encompassing pithy remark, for all time to come! It was right yesterday, is right today and will unfortunately remain right tomorrow. If Sheikh Hasina had believed in it, she could have remained a venerated person, with or without power. What is missing? Hitler, Mussolini, Ceaușescu, Miloševic, Karadžic,m etc were not only powerful but also extremely popular for sometimes while they were in power.

But their power went to their head and they became extremely arrogant, over-confident and power-monger. They thought whatever they thought, they said and they did were right and that bucks stop at their doorstep. They did not fathom that they were losing relevance and were no more connected to the reality that their citizens see and feel all around them. They would neither listen to any views of concern nor to any dissents. History has always dished out the same fate to these wretched people.

So what went wrong that need to be righted? We will delve a little deeper to search out the answer to this question. To begin with, the rule of law should be above all and should be treated as supreme. None should take law in their hands and the law should be allowed to take its own course without any hindrance or influence. Adequate support should be given to creating an environment where the law of the land will be honoured by all. We need to be vigilant to any untoward incidents, including the arson and plundering of the assets of religious minorities, so much cunningly organised to bring a situation to one's favour. There will always be shady people, waiting in the wings, with hidden agenda. They will foment the situation to their advantage, turn the newly found liberty murky internationally and create and seek opportunities to meddle in the affairs of the country.

One strategy that the Awami League government ploughed through, in short, were poaching some history for the aggrandisement of some already towering personality. Everything that the nation did well are the doings or dreams of just one person. One name chimed and reverberated in every nook and corner of the country so much so that even some foreign friends of mine on visiting Bangladesh exclaimed, 'We heard about these photos and agitation but did not expect these to be of this extent!' This frantic face-lifting has irked even some tolerant minds. So, in future, when we bow to someone, a limit needs to be drawn; it should not go to the stage of prostration. Those who prostrate before the batting of eyes surely inculcate a personality that is devoid of any respectability. And those who have this sort of mendicancy do not possess qualities that should be otherwise strong enough to prop themselves up with.

When they are positioned in nodal points, they give what is expected of them and nothing else as they are not capable of giving anything else or anything more. Mediocrity ruled the roost, which continues to this date — thoughtless, mindless, blank minds were given responsible positions and responsibilities which, in fact, dragged down the real development in the management culture. In future, every position should be open for competition in the public sector as is done in the private sector. In fact, it should be a practice in the public sector as it is not someone's paternal property or zamindari and as a whole nation's interest lies on it.

Decision-makers should not just jump on the first name that comes to their mind. A selection process should sort out a befitting office-bearer while the selection process should be exact and meticulous enough. We need to keep in our mind the saying of Chanakya that a wise enemy is better than an addle-headed friend. We need to consider the fact that our public sector officials will have to protect our national interests internally and also in global forums, where they have to appear clever and astute with their words, expressions, articulation, body language and, of course, with their depth of knowledge in relevant fields.

History is said to build national identity and people's individuality and personality. History should, therefore, take its own course without any interference, calculative move or mockery. History does not create its own history. It does not come from someone's dreams. It builds on research. When history is made to order to appease someone's whims, a just society and a respectable society must discard and disown it. People should not be taken to be oblivious of facts and figures. In difficult situations, they may not raise questions and abide by whatever is fed to them silently but a made-to-order history will not sustain for long. Today or tomorrow, a day will come when it will be thrown away into the dustbin of history. So, no tinkering with the truth.

The course of action will not be easy. The incoming and future elected governments will have to sort out the background of the officials in nodal positions and take measured remedial actions irrespective of faith, social, or economic status or political affiliation. A committee of experienced and knowledgeable people with respectable past may be formed to this end. Those who were positioned only on political grounds without considering the required qualification despite a low level of qualification should be sent on retirement and replaced with someone whose suitability would be examined religiously.

The crimes, exposed to or hidden from the public views and knowledge, financial or otherwise, perpetrated in the recent or the distant past that were not brought to the book will have to be enlisted and investigations should be undertaken for justice. Crimes, especially all public killings, should be brought to justice, incriminating all those who were responsible, to assure people of a nation where people believe that they will be judged without fail based on their deed or deceit. This will be helpful to discipline people's mind and the game that they play or want to play. People should have deep faith that they live in a just world. This gives pride to the character of the people that prevents them from committing sleazy acts.

For a bold, courageous and upright nation, justice should be ensured and seen at the earliest to restore confidence in people about the government's honesty and courage. Justice gives voice to the people and it keeps the government informed of ground realities that would help the government to take appropriate and accurate timely steps. We have to believe unconditionally that 'justice delayed is justice denied', a saying attributed, among others, to William Ewart Gladstone, a former prime minister of England. We need to remember that an open environment espouses truth and knowledge. But to begin with, we have to bring all the recent killings to justice, including the 2009 carnage in the Bangladesh Rifles, now renamed as the Border Guards Bangladesh. The country lost some brilliant and valiant minds. Some reparation is in order.

A formidable national loss was the missing of discipline in a department, which is supposed to be a disciplined force. Like the destruction of many institutions, police personnel also lost the basic sense of their call of duty. I have personal experience of a police sergeant, a sub-inspector, arguing with me arrogantly that whatever they do is the law and they are above law. Where does it come from? Be it as it may, it will be a formidable task to discipline the loose cannons. Either wrong people were selected for the job or their training was too flimsy or their goals were not what they were actually recruited for. A national commission has to be formed to ensure a performance by them that does not defy decency, amiability and warranted behaviour.

A separate mention of the fizzling of huge sums of money is warranted. One of the reasons of the people in joining the uprising against the government is the market tumbling — on the kitchen market as well as on the international market. The skyrocketing of prices and the exchange rate of international currencies that create hurdles in import along with dwindling of export end up in the plummeting of cash earning. But above all this, the siphoning of the money in billions out of the country broke the back of the camel.

The Awami League government at any rate would have had faced a similar, if not a harsher, agitation because of these financial mismanagement in coming years. One of the first assignments of the new government would be to look into this abyss and take appropriate and adequate measures to solve the problems, in particular by bringing back of the stolen money. This will help the new government to take a full-breasted deep breath, in an otherwise economically suffocating environment the failure of which will jeopardise and smirch the new government.

A nation divided against itself cannot stand, as Abraham Lincoln said. So, utmost efforts has to go to unite the nation, divided by the ruling clique into religion, spirit, freedom fighter and enemy of the nation, division of the professionals into different groups. Instigating people to assume inimical role and then engaging strength to quell enemies in a cauldron saps away time and strength that should, instead of spreading thin, be used for developmental pursuit. Bold and intelligent moves need to be undertaken to handle diversity, not all of which might be supportive, some may be suppurative.

An honest, unassuming and hard-working leadership will ensure that governance is far-sighted, fair and transparent, and sponsor and support capable, skillful, hardworking and efficient people without any other consideration, irrespective of political, cultural, linguistic and religious background. In future, planning and financing should be purely need-based, equitable and not taken up on political grounds or to serve ulterior motives of policy makers or politicians. Aligning with this motive will ensure efficient budgeting and allocative efficiency with best outcome.

One formidable problem that should be taken out by the root is rent-seeking practice that has become a culture with impunity in the country very fast by known and people and professionals, who use political or official identity for nefarious acts. Rent-seeking occurs in markets, on roads and highways and in offices. This practice increases prices directly and indirectly, which increases inflation.

AM Zakir Hussain is a former director, Primary Health Care and Disease Control, former director of IEDCR, DGHS, former regional adviser of SEARO, WHO and former staff consultant, Asian Development Bank, Bangladesh.​

New interim govt must prioritise human rights, not repeat mistakes of the past: Amnesty International
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Aug 06, 2024 20:59
Updated :
Aug 06, 2024 20:59


Any new interim government in Bangladesh must prioritise human rights, show solidarity with its people, protect the most vulnerable, and not repeat mistakes of the past, Amnesty International has said.

"The first order of business for any interim government should be to ensure protection of people's right to life, right to free speech and peaceful assembly and to find ways of de-escalating any potential for further violence", Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International Smriti Singh on Tuesday said in reaction to the announcement that a new interim government is to be formed following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid mass protests in Bangladesh.

Any measures proposed to move forward from this deadly chapter in Bangladesh's history need to be rooted in the principles of justice, accountability, and non-recurrence, she said.

Smriti Singh called for the establishment of a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the human rights violations in the last three weeks that have led to the death of more than 300 people, with thousands injured and arbitrarily arrested.

"Those found responsible must be held accountable and the victims of the violence should receive full reparations from the state, which includes compensation, rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition", she added.​

Student representation in nation-building
Mehedi Imam 15 August, 2024, 00:00


| New Age

BANGLADESH should consider a transformative initiative by establishing a national student assembly to enhance democratic engagement and to ensure that the voice of the youth are heard and valued, as we learnt from the July– August movement. Such an assembly would serve as a formal institution, empowering students from diverse educational backgrounds to actively participate in shaping the nation’s future.

The national student assembly would provide for a structured platform where students can engage in meaningful dialogues, contribute to national discourses and represent the interests and concern of their peers. By institutionalising student representation, the assembly would bridge the gap between the younger generation and policymakers, ensuring that the perspectives and ideas of the youth are considered in the national decision-making process.

This assembly would function as a consultative body, offering actionable recommendations to the government on key issues affecting the youth and the broader society. It would foster a culture of civic responsibility among students, encouraging them to actively play a role in the democratic process and to advocate for policies that reflect their aspirations and values.

Furthermore, the national student assembly could serve as an incubator for leadership, providing students with the opportunity to develop critical skills in governance, negotiation and public policy. By engaging in debates, drafting proposals and participating in decision-making, students would gain practical experience that would prepares them for future roles in public service and civic engagement.

Structure and functioning

The proposed assembly cold be composed of 128 student representatives — 64 boys and 64 girls — elected annually, with the possibility of expanding representation at the upazila level. These representatives will be chosen through a virtual voting process, ensuring broad participation and inclusivity across the nation. The assembly will be organised on a district (or upazila) basis, with each of the 64 districts electing one boy and one girl to serve as the representatives.

Election process

THE process will be conducted virtually to ensure fair and transparent election. Student will be eligible to vote in their respective district or upazila, with candidates canvassing within their districts (upazilas) to garner support. This method would leverage technology to facilitate widespread participation and reduce logistical constraints, making the process more accessible for all students.

Role and responsibilities

THE primary role of the proposed assembly will be to gather and articulate the concern and suggestions of students from across the country on every important issue from time to time. The assembly will meet periodically to discuss pressing issues, formulate recommendations and present the proposals to the government. This engagement will provide policymakers with valuable insights into the needs and perspectives of the younger generation, helping to shape policies that impact their education and future, including global commitments to environment or nature earth.

Eligibility and terms

MEMBERS of the assembly will be elected for a one-year term to ensure a dynamic and representative body. Eligibility to vote and run in the election will be limited to active students enrolled on bachelor’s courses and continue up to master’s courses, keeping the assembly closely aligned with the current educational level. Once students complete their academic tenure, their voting rights in the assembly elections will automatically expire, preserving the integrity and relevance of the assembly.

Benefits and impact

The establishment of such an assembly will offer numerous benefits.

Student voice: Students will have a formal platform to express their views and influence policy decisions, affecting their educational experiences and future prospects.

Increased engagement: By participating in elections and representing their peers, students will develop a stronger sense of civic responsibility and engagement.

Policy relevance: Recommendations from a body directly representing students will provide the government with actionable insight, leading to more effective and relevant policy interventions.

The proposed assembly likely to would make a significant step towards empowering the youth by formalising their representation through a democratic process. This initiative would create a more inclusive and responsive policy environment, ensuring that student voice is heard and considered in shaping the nation’s future on all key issues.

The assembly, by amplifying the voice of the youth, would not only strengthen democratic practices but also pave the way for a more vibrant and participatory democratic environment, recognising the next generation as essential stakeholders in progress and development. In doing so, it would honour the legacy of the student-mass uprising of July–August, guiding the nation forward and ensuring that it remains on the right path.

Mehedi Imam is a researcher.​

The legality of the interim government
Analysis from constitutional and international legal perspectives


Dr Muhammad Yunus takes oath as the chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh on August 8, 2024. FILE PHOTO: STAR

The constitutionality of the current interim government of Bangladesh can be analysed from two perspectives: firstly in consonance with Kelsen's Grundnorm theory following a revolution and the drastic change in circumstances that follow, and secondly in light of the present constitution.

The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the supreme law of the land and, as its Article 7 (2) states, it is the solemn expression of the will of the people. Reading as such, along with Kelsen's Grundnorm theory, which enunciates that the law of the land emanates from a Grundnorm or the basic rule that births all other rules found in that legal system, it means that the Grundnorm is the will of the people. The evolution, or change of a Grundnorm, occurs at the instance of a successful revolution. Following the revolutionary events in Bangladesh in the months of July and August in 2024, it is safe to say that both a revolution and a significant shift in the will of the people have occurred.

This shift can be identified through two lenses: i) academic; and ii) political or through the naked eye. From an academic standpoint, the rallying of people against a tyrant regime and the subsequent resignation of the then prime minister is a mark of revolution from a procedural and academic standpoint. In the naked eye, the people flooding the streets in visible jubilation following the fall of the despotic regime as a result of weeks-long mass protests, unrest, and bloodshed is an invariable display of the shift of public will—the mark of a successful revolution and the subsequent shift, in other words the creation of a new Grundnorm.

The characterisation of these events as a revolution may be concretised by two key factors: the fact that the prime minister resigned, and that she left for another country in search of refuge. Following her resignation and subsequent departure, the law enforcement agencies, which had done her bidding even till the very last minute of her stay inside the country, were nowhere to be found. Meanwhile the army, which was deployed on the streets, expressed support to the people on the streets. And even more so, as evidence of a successful revolution, two student leaders took seats in the newly formed interim government as representatives of the movement. Furthermore, the formation of the interim government was not based on the will of any particular group of people. It was the collective expression of the representatives of the major political parties in the country, leaders of the student-led mass uprising, key members of the civil society, etc. that led to the formation of the council of advisers of this interim government.



Advisers of the interim government take oath on August 8, 2024. FILE PHOTO: STAR

Under the present constitution, for the sake of debate, to entertain Article 57 (3) pertaining to the ability of the prime minister, after resigning, to still hold office until the next prime minister takes office, such application would be null and void given the fact that the prime minister is not present in the country, or at her office following her resignation. Hence, the question of whether she holds office till the next prime minister comes is irrelevant, since she left her office invariably for another country, rendering herself unavailable as opposed to the constitutionally prescribed method of resigning.

Hence, in tandem with the legality through the shift and stabilisation of the Grundnorm towards the interim government, and through the application of the effective control theory where all the state's machineries are under effective control of the interim government, this government is not just legal but also constitutional. A successful revolution may lead to changes in the law of a country ("When and why does the Grundnorm change?"; The Cambridge Law Journal).

Under the present constitution, for the sake of debate, to entertain Article 57 (3) pertaining to the ability of the prime minister, after resigning, to still hold office until the next prime minister takes office, such application would be null and void given the fact that the prime minister is not present in the country, or at her office following her resignation. Hence, the question of whether she holds office till the next prime minister comes is irrelevant, since she left her office invariably for another country, rendering herself unavailable as opposed to the constitutionally prescribed method of resigning. This created a unique situation which neither happened in our history, nor does our constitution explicitly provide for it. The former prime minister's fleeing from Bangladesh made it practically impossible for her to hold the office till the appointment of her successor. In such a unique situation, which seemingly lays outside of the periphery of what exists as constitutional law in Bangladesh, it necessitates the actions of the president, and if need be, the collaboration with the chief justice in conjunction with Article 106 of the constitution, in formulating a new interpretation of constitutional principles that deal with the situation and pave a path forward.

There is a misconception that following the prime minister's departure from the country either by resignation or otherwise, there was no government in the country, whereas in the absence of the prime minister, the president was still in office, therefore there evidently was a government. The formation of the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus was overseen by the president, which goes in line with the aforementioned constitutional law principle, since the vacuum created by the absence of the prime minister altogether elevates the duties of the president, thus instating this government as legal and de jure. Another significant characteristic of this government is that there has been no opposition to the formation and operation of this new government, which clearly shows that the people of Bangladesh including all political parties and the state organs have generally accepted it. Moreover, Articles 57 (3) and 58 (4) of the constitution stipulate that the prime minister and the cabinet of ministers will continue to hold their offices until their successors have entered the offices. The word "successor" is critical as it does not explicitly mandate a new prime minister or a cabinet of ministers to be appointed. From this perspective, their "successors" in the newly formed interim government, which the president appointed after taking the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court, gain legitimacy under the present constitutional scheme too.

In international law, there are two different terms used to describe different governments: de jure and de facto. De jure is recognition by law and de facto is control in fact. The president, with the utmost responsibility of the state, swearing in this interim government gives it legality, enunciating it as a de jure government, while consequently the effective control the interim government gained over state machinery—whether it be through the controlling of civil servants, law enforcement agencies or otherwise and through the emphatic and visible support of the people at large—proves this interim government to be the de facto government as well. Moreover, the recognition of the international community—the United Nations as well as various countries—and their willingness to work with this new government is also a very important characteristic of a valid government of a country in this era of modern international law.

This column does not aim to solve all the problems that have arisen out of the current constitutional crisis, but to raise relevant issues in concordance with the current situation so that they may be penultimately pondered over, researched, articulated and then implemented as suitable concrete solutions in the future. There is no one side taken throughout this text, rather multiple analyses made from a bird's eye view of the situation, taking into consideration the plethora of factors and circumstances relevant to it.

The legality of the present interim government is justified based on both Kelsen's theory and the existing constitutional law of Bangladesh. Thus, this government's legality can be established from jurisprudential, constitutional and international legal perspectives.

Dr Muhammad Ekramul Haque is professor of comparative constitutional law at the Department of Law in the University of Dhaka, and senior research fellow at the Constitutional Studies Program in the University of Texas at Austin,​

Interim govt must reflect students’ proposals
Say organisers of anti-discrimination student movement


The organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement pose for a photo during a live television programme yesterday. Photo: Collected

Several organisers of the anti-discrimination student movement last evening said the power must be handed over to the interim government proposed by the students and citizens who protested

Seven coordinators of the movement, including Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, made the announcement through a private television channel.

They emphasised that nothing will be accepted beyond the proposed interim national government, adding that fascists and murderers will be tried and will not be given a chance to escape.

A framework for the interim government in question will be presented to the nation after discussions between thestudents, representatives of thecivil society and political leaders. "No collaboratorsor supporters of fascists will be allowed in the national interim government," said Nahid.

He said they (the student leaders) want to bring change in the overall system of Bangladesh, in which fascism, authoritarianism or "another leader like Sheikh Hasina" can never emerge again.

Responding to a question, Asif Mahmud said they believed they had achieved victory the day the one-point demand was announced, adding that they will remain on the streets until all their demands are met.

About the demands, he said that on the first day the interim government takes office, all political leaders and activists imprisoned over the past 16 years must be released, and all political murders must get justice.

The coordinators said they want the total reformation of the country, and conduct fair and impartial elections for a democratic government.

Another coordinator, Sarjis Alam, credited the success of the movement to the ordinary people of Bangladesh.

Referring to the clashes in the areas of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Chankharpul yesterday, Asif said that shots were fired at the coordinators there as well. "We were able to come here by sheer luck."

Nahid urged the students and people to ensure that no one takes advantage of the current situation to vandalise or loot state establishments.

Addressing the public, he said they must remain peacefully on the streets until the final announcement is made. "State assets belong to the people, and they must be protected. No one should be able to loot."​

Wahiduddin Mahmud, Ali Imam, Fouzul Kabir, Jahangir Alam set to become advisers
Staff CorrespondentDhaka
Updated: 15 Aug 2024, 23: 09


Clockwise: Wahiduddin Mahmud, Ali Imam Mazumder, Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury Collage

Four new advisers are going to be included in the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.

The probable advisers are economist Wahiduddin Mahmud, former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Mazumder, former secretary Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

They are going to be sworn in tomorrow, a source from Bangabhaban confirmed.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina government in the face of students-led mass uprising on 5 August, an interim government was formed making Dr Muhammad Yunus the chief advisor on 8 August. Including the chief advisor, the number of members in this interim government is 17 so far. The number of members of the interim cabinet will reach 21 if four members are included.

Chief advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus has taken charge of 24 ministries and departments including the cabinet division, ministry of defence, ministry of education, ministry of road transport and bridges, ministry of food, ministry of agriculture, ministry of public administration and ministry of commerce.

Among other advisors, responsibility of the ministry of finance and planning has been given to Saleh Uddin Ahmed, home ministry to Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, ministry of law to professor Asif Nazrul, ministry of commerce to Adilur Rahman Khan, ministry of local government, rural development and cooperatives to Hasan Arif, ministry of foreign affairs to Md Touhid Hossain, ministry of environment, forest and climate change to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, ministry of social welfare to Sharmeen Murshid, ministry of liberation war affairs to Faruk-e-Azam, ministry of Chittagong hill tracts affairs to Supradip Chakma, ministry of primary and mass education to Bidhan Ranjan Roy, ministry of religious affairs to AFM Khalid Hasan, ministry of fisheries and livestock to Farida Akhter, ministry of health and family welfare to Noorjahan Begum, ministries of posts, telecommunication and information technology to Md Nahid Islam and the ministry of youth and sports has been given to Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.​

Bangladesh ambassdors to six countries including US asked to return
Diplomatic CorrespondentDhaka
Published: 15 Aug 2024, 23: 08


Logo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contractual appointments of Bangladesh ambassadors to the United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have been cancelled. The high commissioner to the Maldives, who was on deputation, has also been asked to return home.

Separate gazette notifications signed by foreign ministry’s director general DM Salah Uddin on Wednesday ordered the seven Bangladeshi envoys to return home.

Asked about the transfer orders, foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen told Prothom Alo on Thursday evening, ‘A decision to cancel the contractual appointments was made in the meeting of the advisory council recently. In light of that decision, six ambassadors are being called to return.’

The six asked to return home are Mohammad Imran, the ambassador to the United States; Kamrul Ahsan, ambassador to Russia; Md Abu Jafar, ambassador to the United Arab Emirates; Shahabuddin Ahmad, ambassador to Japan; Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, ambassador to Germany and Mohammad Javed Patwari, ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The first three of them are career diplomats. They were performing contractual duties after expiry of their normal service period. Two former secretaries of government were posted in Japan and Germany and the ambassador appointed to Saudi Arabia was the former inspector general of police.

Navy’s top official rear admiral SM Abul Kalam Azad is the high commissioner in Maldives. He has also been recalled.

In separate orders, Arifa Rahman Ruma, official of Bangladesh embassy in the US; Aparna Rani Paul, official of Canada high commission and Mithila Farzana have also been asked to return home.

The interim government led by professor Dr Yunus on 11 August took eight decisions including cancellation of all contractual appointments in different government posts.​

Interim govt: Portfolios of advisers reshuffled
BSSDhaka
Updated: 16 Aug 2024, 22: 03



(Top L-R) Wahiduddin Mahmud, Ali Imam Majumder, Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and M Sakhawat Hossain (Bottom L-R) Asif Nazrul, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman Khan, Md Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan

(Top L-R) Wahiduddin Mahmud, Ali Imam Majumder, Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and M Sakhawat Hossain (Bottom L-R) Asif Nazrul, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman Khan, Md Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan Prothom Alo

With the redistribution of responsibilities to the existing advisers to the interim government, the portfolios of the newly sworn-in four advisers were announced on Friday.

Wahiduddin Mahmud has been given the charges of the Ministry Planning and the Ministry of Education while Ali Imam Majumder has been attached to the Chief Adviser's Office, according to a handout of the Chief Adviser's Office.

The redistribution of the portfolios of existing advisers is as follows:

Salehuddin Ahmed: The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce.

Asif Nazrul: The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Adilur Rahman Khan: The Ministry Industries and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources.

Md Nahid Islam: The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan: The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain: The Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

Farooq-e-Azam: The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

The charges of other advisers will remain unchanged.​