[🇧🇩] Student Revolution: Lessons from Bangladesh

[Saif]

For the sake of stability

After a mass uprising or revolution leading to the fall of an unpopular government or controversial ruler of any country, people there usually have to endure a period of unrest. In Bangladesh too violence sparked and spread due to a spree of retaliation and revenge; various groups came to the stree

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

For the sake of stability
Tanim Asjad
Published :
Nov 29, 2024 23:24
Updated :
Nov 29, 2024 23:24

After a mass uprising or revolution leading to the fall of an unpopular government or controversial ruler of any country, people there usually have to endure a period of unrest. In Bangladesh too violence sparked and spread due to a spree of retaliation and revenge; various groups came to the streets with multiple demands, and the agents of ousted government tried to shield them from backlash. Overall, chaos has gripped the nation for the time being. It will take sometime to settle the dust. It doesn't mean that normalcy would come back automatically. Those in charge of the country in this transitional period must work hard to restore stability.

After August 5, Bangladesh slid into a period of chaos, which is not unusual. An unprecedented student-people movement forced the tyrant Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to India for shelter. People across the country celebrated the historic moment and felt free to express their opinions, which were otherwise muted by her regime. Led by students and youths, the movement against state-sponsored discrimination gained widespread support. Many also have termed the movement a revolution, as it made a monumental transition that most people had considered impossible even a few days before August 5. Arrogant Hasina also had undermined the movement and failed to read the writing on the wall.

Following the downfall of Hasina, Dr Prof Muhammad Yunus took over the responsibility of running the interim government. This government is tasked to play a crucial role of restoring stability and preparing the nation for a free and fair national election. The government headed by him has been in power for more than 100 days but the country's socio-economic stability is yet to be in sight. Instead, disorder and unrest have been capturing various spheres of life. The government's proactive move to restore law and order is missing.

The immediate past week was disappointing for various reasons. Battery-run rickshaw pullers blocked the busy roads and streets and attacked students. They protested against the high court order to stop operations of the battery-run rickshaws on main roads, which they believed would severely impact their livelihoods. Students of several educational institutions got involved in clashes turning the situation violent. The worst thing happened on Monday when a group of students from two colleges attacked another college. Law enforcement agencies failed to resist the attackers. Again, in the name of disbursing interest-free loans, a little-known organisation tried to assemble thousands of ordinary people from different parts of the country in Dhaka. All these have seriously disrupted the regular activities of millions of people and caused a lot of sufferings to them. Continuation of such anarchy will make the restoration of stability more difficult.

There is no denying that the previous regime had severely damaged the key national institutions and politicised the civil administration. Hasina regime also distorted the norms and ethics in different institutions and promoted irregularities and corruption. So, it is an uphill task for the interim government to correct all those within a short period and make the civil administration well-functioning.

Nevertheless, the interim government has taken responsibility at a critical juncture of the nation. It cannot fix all the deep-rooted problems. The main tasks of the interim government ought to be restoring socio-economic stability, starting the process of trial of the ousted regime for corruption and murder, and creating a conducive environment for a free and fair national election. These are tough jobs requiring some tough stance, no matter how unpopular those would be. After 100 days' soft-pedalling, it is now time to opt for a hard approach involving stringent measures for the sake of the country's overall stability. Otherwise, things may go out of control, and the outcome of the mass uprising at the cost of huge sacrifices would be frustrating.​

 

[Saif]

Asif Nazrul for maintaining unity to sustain spirits of July mass uprising

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today called upon all the stakeholders of the mass uprising to maintain unity to sustain its achievements and materialize the aspirations of the martyrs. “A number of revolutions in global history including Arab Spring in Tunisia

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Asif Nazrul for maintaining unity to sustain spirits of July mass uprising
BSS
Published :
Nov 30, 2024 22:55
Updated :
Nov 30, 2024 22:55

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today called upon all the stakeholders of the mass uprising to maintain unity to sustain its achievements and materialize the aspirations of the martyrs.

“A number of revolutions in global history including Arab Spring in Tunisia and Syria failed to materialize the aspirations of the movement in the long run. We must materialize the dreams of July uprising martyrs by building an independent and sovereign Bangladesh in true sense”, he said.

He was addressing a memorial meeting on July uprising titled ‘Smritir Minar: Gono Abhyuthan-2024’, organized by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall at Jatiya press Club, with BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed in the chair.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, writer Rakhal Raha, Poet and activist Ferdous Ara Rumi, Members of BSS board of directors Fazlul Huq and Nure Alam Masud, and Gono Odhikar Parishad general secretary Muhammad Rashed Khan also addressed the memorial discussion, conducted by BSS Special Correspondent Didarul Alam.

The interim government has been making all out efforts to build an independent and sovereign and dignified Bangladesh in true sense to materialize the dream of the martyrs.

Dr Asif Nazrul called everyone to search the truth and refrain from character assassination of each other saying, “Spreading misinformation, propaganda, blaming others, oppression or torture were the weapons of fascist force… Our weapons are truth, unity and getting rid of repression and discrimination”.

Regarding an allegation against him about holding meetings with Indian allies in the Dhaka cantonment on August 3 and 4 before the ouster of Awami League regime, Asif Nazrul said it is completely a fabricated allegation.

Mentioning his activities of August 3 and 4, he said, “On August 3, after attending the student movement’s rally at Shaheed Minar, I was there till 9pm with Mahbub Morshed and others. Later, I stayed the night at Professor Mustafa Mamun’s house at fuller road area on Dhaka University after being informed that I might be arrested or killed”.

“In the night of August 4, I attended a programme with online activists after the evening. You might hear the audio of the meeting where I said we might be arrested or killed and stayed there till 10 pm. Later, I went again to Mostafa Mamun’s house and stayed there on that night”, he added.​

 

[Saif]

If we fail, killer Hasina will annihilate everyone: Sarjis Alam

At the event, families of 55 martyred in the July- August mass uprising received a donation of Tk 500,000 each.

en.prothomalo.com

If we fail, killer Hasina will annihilate everyone: Sarjis Alam
Correspondent
Mymensingh
Published: 30 Nov 2024, 19: 23

July Shaheed Smriti Foundation general secretary Sarjis Alam said, “Killer Sheikh Hasina and her collaborators are trying their best so that we cannot succeed. If we somehow fail, killer Hasina will annihilate all of us who are here now. Families could not bury the bodies of many martyrs before 5 August. Many could not stay home. If killer Sheikh Hasina and her collaborators return such a situation will arise again.”

Sarjis Alam made the remarks at an event in Mymensingh city on Saturday. At the event, families of 55 martyred in the July- August mass uprising received a donation of Tk 500,000 each.

He said, “The conspiracy of the black vultures has not stopped yet. If we can live with your blessings, we will allow nothing to happen to the families of any martyrs and the injured. None of the martyrs and the injured will live in hardship, but it might take a little time. We will be next to you all the time, sacrificing our lives.”

Sarjis Alam said their responsibility is to protect the spirit of this uprising. “We will criticise the government constructively and cooperate with the administration at all levels. Those of the administration who are involved in killing must be brought under punishment by scrutinising video footage and images. It is now related to the existence of those in charge of administration because they are now in these positions because of this uprising.”

July Shaheed Smriti Foundation chief executive officer (CEO) Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho moderated the event. He said every people in the country are indebted to the families of the martyred.

Remarks of families of the martyred

Shafiq Uddin Ahmed Ahnaf, a class XI student of BAF Shaheen College, was killed in Mirpur during the July-August movement on 4 August. His mother Zartaj Pervin said no one should lose their children anymore and they demanded a trial for all the killings.

Zaman Mia, 17, from Nandail of Mymensingh, worked at a garment factory in Narsingdi. He was shot in front of the factory during the Student Against Discrimination movement on 21 July and succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on 25 July.

Zaman Mia’s parents Minara Begum and Shaidul Islam joined the event. Minara Begum said they told their son not to go to the protest in the previous night, but he did not listen and joined the project and never returned.

Shaidul Islam said Zaman Mia was the younger one of his two sons and he sent Tk 10,000 monthly to the family, but he was shot dead. He, however, filed no lawsuit on this matter.

Senior officials from local administration and police also spoke at the event.​

 

[Saif]

The gathering storm

Post-revolution challenges and the new generation’s role in shaping our future

www.thedailystar.net

The gathering storm
Post-revolution challenges and the new generation’s role in shaping our future

Supporters of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and police clash at court premises in Chattogram on November 26, 2024. Photo: Star

If anyone had thought that the post-revolution government or the people, in general, would have an easy ride in conducting the affairs of the state, they were living in a paradise dominated by fools. The more aware among us perhaps anticipated some resistance posed by the supporters of the disgraced autocrat.

However, the highly coordinated and well-orchestrated programmes—planned, instigated, and directed from across the border to spoil the gains and thwart the recovery programmes of the interim government—make us wonder.

And the wonder is at the ineptness of the intelligence agencies to anticipate the anti-state elements because anyone who resists the current recovery and reform programmes cannot be categorised as anything but that. We will dwell on this aspect a little later.

All successful revolutions run the risk of a counter-revolution, particularly when there is a lot at stake for a deposed autocrat, their party, and its diehard supporters. The destruction that has been wreaked on every sector, including the very moral edifice of the nation that elevates a country in the community of nations, needs a turbulence-free environment to set right. The longer a post-revolution regime lasts, the more of their wrongdoings come to light—and more of the wrongdoers face trial and punishment. Thus, to have failed to foresee the events now unfolding would suggest either incompetence or dereliction of duty on the part of those responsible for forewarning the administration.

Our problems are essentially twofold.

Firstly, the opposition has an external sponsor and beneficiary. They have perhaps an equally high, if not greater, stake in the fugitive prime minister's reinstatement to power. It seems that hostile intelligence agencies are working overtime to create as much turmoil as possible inside Bangladesh to bring down the interim government and ensure that outcome.

For this, the most sensitive issue—the minority issue—has been exploited. Facts have been distorted and exaggerated, and, in most instances, narratives have been manufactured to create communal strife in Bangladesh to restore the disgraced autocrat to power.

This looks like a crass, callow, and rustic approach from the mandarins sitting in New Delhi, who seem to be out to atone for their dismal failure, firstly, to anticipate the fate of their protégé in Dhaka and, secondly, to prevent the outcome that eventuated, by any means, fair or foul.

The second problem is that the former autocrat has not only been provided a safe sanctuary across the border but is also being allowed to carry out anti-Bangladesh activities seemingly in collusion with hostile intelligence agencies. Investigations so far have revealed that the anti-minority activities and attacks on the minority community have been instigated and perpetrated by Awami League elements. In fact, they have been behind most of the troubles witnessed in various sectors.

And regarding the above, I have a few submissions.

Firstly, the use of Indian soil to conduct anti-Bangladesh activities by anti-Bangladesh elements. It is not only Hasina but also a large number of her party members who are now ensconced in India and, in fact, are seemingly being supported by Indian authorities. It is time the Bangladesh government looked its counterpart in the eye and demanded that this be stopped forthwith. We are used to hearing ad nauseam the whining of the Indian authorities about so-called hostile anti-Indian elements, without credible proof, conducting anti-Indian activities from inside Bangladesh. Hasina makes no secret of her activities. She and her fugitive party members are a distinct threat to our security interests, and this issue must be dealt with the alacrity and seriousness it deserves. Otherwise, I fear we will rue the fact that many of the top leadership managed to leave the country—indeed, some of them were helped to leave.

Secondly, the role of the intelligence agencies. In the past, they had been serving party interests rather than national interests. Vestiges of the deposed party may still exist among their serving members, with loyalty to the erstwhile ruling party. Thus, it may not be beyond the realm of possibility that the timely passage of intelligence is being deliberately disrupted. This must be addressed seriously.

Thirdly, countering ill-motivated distortions of facts by the Indian media. The concerted, coordinated offensive by the Indian media, certainly at the direction of the authorities in Delhi, must be addressed effectively. Here, I feel the role of our media is vital.

Notice the quickness with which a minority matter is turned into an issue by the Indian media and how stories are manufactured with slants given to events occurring in Bangladesh to tarnish our image. I have not seen enough editorials or articles in our leading newspapers countering these spurious and malicious news stories.

The fact that the Modi government has been carrying out anti-Muslim programmes has remained outside the notice of the international community. In fact, very little, if any, news of the persecution of Muslims in India since 2014 has found space in our electronic or print media. But perhaps I am expecting too much, given a situation where a large section of the fourth estate in Bangladesh, over the last 15 years, had surrendered to the party in power and, instead of being a watchdog, had become a lapdog of the party (see my article: "Surrender of the fourth estate," The Daily Star, February 27, 2019). It is time we put national interests first and helped in our own ways to enhance and preserve national security.

Let me end by asserting that the Indian political leadership and their policy planners are out of sync with the reality prevailing in Bangladesh. The quisling they set up in Dhaka and her party have all but lost public support. More importantly, a new generation in Bangladesh has come of age and has taken, somewhat by force, the baton that the old guards—who have consistently failed the people—failed to pass on to the new generation in a timely manner. Luckily, this generation is not burdened by the baggage of history and is gifted with greater acuity to see the tree from the woods.

It is my firm belief that this new generation will run the affairs of the state in the very near future. In all likelihood, political power alternation will no longer be considered in binary terms. A third party will emerge—it needs to emerge—to replace the ossified minds that have been running the affairs of the state for so long.

Brig Gen Shahedul Anam Khan, ndc, psc (retd) is a former associate editor of The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Govt should double efforts for laundered money recovery

AN INVESTIGATIVE report by a British news agency once again shows that politicians and businesspeople linked to the deposed Awami League have laundered huge wealth off Bangladesh. The report, conducted by the Observer in collaboration with Transparency International that British newspaper...

www.newagebd.net

Govt should double efforts for laundered money recovery
02 December, 2024, 00:00

AN INVESTIGATIVE report by a British news agency once again shows that politicians and businesspeople linked to the deposed Awami League have laundered huge wealth off Bangladesh. The report, conducted by the Observer in collaboration with Transparency International that British newspaper Guardian published on November 30, shows that prominent Bangladeshi politicians and businesspeople own top-flight properties worth an estimated £400 million in the United Kingdom. The properties were acquired through offshore companies and members of the family, with ownership concealed using complex corporate structures. The report mentions the names of a few and members of the families that own the property. Among them are Salman F Rahman, who was private industry investment adviser to the prime minister, former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, businesspeople Ahmed Akber Sobhan, Nazrul Mazumder and members of their family. Members of the Rahman family own, or hold stakes in, seven luxury blocks of flats there while the family of Ahmed Akber Sobhan of the Bashundhara Group own three properties in the United Kingdom. The family of Nazrul Mazumder, founder and chair of the Nassa Group, own top-flight Kensington property. Former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his family own or have stakes in more than 300 UK properties worth at least £160 million.

The report is understandably not an exhaustive one as many others are likely to own and have stakes in property in the United Kingdom while the people mentioned in the report may also have more wealth there than what was reported as ownership can be easily hidden by wrapping the property-owning company inside another offshore vehicle such as an anonymous trust. The accumulation of illegal wealth by politicians and businesspeople overseas, especially in the United Kingdom, has been reported earlier too by local and international media. A white paper published on December 1 on the state of the economy during the Awami League regime says that on an average, $16 billion were illicitly syphoned off Bangladesh every year during Sheikh Hasina’s ‘corrupt autocracy’, leaving the country in a ‘state of plunder’. The massive pilfering was only possible because relevant state institutions under the Awami League regime remained virtually ineffective or complicit. A culture of impunity and lack of accountability let corrupt elements get away by amassing illegal wealth. This is assuring that the government now considers repatriating stolen funds as its priority area of intervention, but it should quickly develop a strategy to fulfil its mandate, which is to locate the laundered money, initiate transnational legal processes and set up communications with countries where the money was transferred.

Illicit capital flow is a major reason for the ongoing economic crisis, especially the dollar shortage. The interim government should, therefore, scale up its efforts to recover the laundered money and hold the launderers to justice. The government should also deliver on its anti-money laundering pledges and put in place a mechanism to stop the recurrence of capital flight.​

 

[Saif]

'Graffiti of revolution: Bangladesh 2024' launched

A book titled "Graffiti of Revolution: Bangladesh 2024 - the story of a Mass Uprising Through Art" written by writer and social activist Abu Zubier was launched in Paris, France on Saturday. The book captures the historic 2024 Student-People's Uprising in Bangladesh through the lenses of graffiti

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

'Graffiti of revolution: Bangladesh 2024' launched
Published :
Dec 07, 2024 23:10
Updated :
Dec 07, 2024 23:10

A book titled "Graffiti of Revolution: Bangladesh 2024 - the story of a Mass Uprising Through Art" written by writer and social activist Abu Zubier was launched in Paris, France on Saturday.

The book captures the historic 2024 Student-People's Uprising in Bangladesh through the lenses of graffiti and street art created during the movement, according to a press release run by BSS news agency..

The 102-page book presents revolution artwork depicting courage, hope and resistance against oppression. Each graffiti piece reflects the emotions and demands for change of the people during that pivotal time.

"During the protests, graffiti became a voice for the people, a way to express pain and the fight for change," said Abu Zubier, adding, "The book preserves those moments, ensuing they inspire the future generation."​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh needs to strengthen its political leadership

Effective political leadership is essential for achieving democratic governance.

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh needs to strengthen its political leadership

Top political leaders in Bangladesh must play a dominant role in changing the political culture for the better. PHOTO: CA PRESS WING

The role of honest and committed political leadership is paramount in a modern democratic polity. In a democratic system of governance, a party in power can fulfil people's desires and aspirations only if it properly follows democratic processes, starting with supporting free and fair elections, ensuring a functional parliament, promoting good governance, and guaranteeing the optimal utilisation of national resources. Without capable and strong leaders, a political party cannot be steered in the right direction to achieve national development goals.

Bangladesh faces a number of challenges today, but despite having the technical knowledge to address them, weak leadership remains a hindrance to their effective resolution. The crisis of political leadership in the country has reached such a level that people now desire reforms in all areas of politics, including electoral reform, constitutional reform, administrative reform, local government reform, and anti-corruption system reform. The interim government has formed separate reform commissions in these areas to offer recommendations for improvement.

One vital question is, why have we not developed a culture of honest political tradition? There is no easy or straightforward answer to this question. In different countries—particularly our next-door neighbour India, where democracy has thrived for the last 77 years without interruption—political tradition has matured and has been sustained without major shifts in social structure. Bangladeshi politics could have matured in the three and a half decades since 1991, following the departure of the last military ruler, President HM Ershad. By then, Bangladeshi society was believed to have become more open to change, less tradition-bound, and ready to embrace democratic values. In rural areas, the power structure was becoming less rigid, with traditional landowner-peasant relationships breaking down, creating room for the growth of other non-land-based power centres. This was an opportune time for grassroots democratic openings in Bangladesh. However, political maturity has not yet been achieved, and broad-based political activities remain less visible than expected.

The February 1991 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh were held under a non-party caretaker government for the first time and were considered largely free and fair. General elections in 1996, 2001, and 2008 were also held under caretaker governments. However, in 2011, the Awami League abolished the caretaker government system, sparking widespread protests by other political parties, particularly the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Communist Party of Bangladesh. These protests have continued for the past 14 years, weakening the political process in the country.

Bangladesh, in its 54 years of history, has experienced a lot of political turmoil and frequent power struggles. These are due to weak political culture, a winner-takes-all tendency among parties, corruption, the use of government machinery for political gains, and harassment of opposition party workers and leaders. An idealistic attitude at all levels of political leadership has been lacking.

Although two female prime ministers have ruled the country since 1991, women's roles in politics have hardly strengthened during this period. Out of 300 seats in the national parliament, only 20 women were directly elected in the 12th general elections held in January 2024. Including the 50 reserved seats for women in parliament, women make up just 20 percent of the total MPs.

But what qualities should political leaders possess? Robert B Denhardt has identified five characteristics of effective leadership based on studies in the US, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia—commitment to values, service to the public, empowerment and shared leadership, pragmatic incrementalism, and dedication to public service. These leadership qualities are equally applicable to Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi politics has been dominated by national-level politicians over the years. In mature democracies, local leaders can rise to the national level through their performance. In Bangladesh, however, local leaders lack such opportunities due to increasing marginalisation by national leaders, who extend their power bases to the local level. For instance, members of parliament are often involved in local government activities, dominating local leaders and blocking their chances to demonstrate their capabilities. This tendency creates a leadership vacuum at the mid-level. Therefore, national-level political actors must cease their control over local government institutions.

Political parties should establish institutional frameworks with built-in restraint mechanisms to prevent leaders from becoming authoritarian. As Bertrand Russell noted, some political leaders are intoxicated by power. However, great leaders in various countries have set examples by retiring from politics early. In some countries, such as the US and the UK, term limits for heads of state or government allow other political leaders to rise to top positions, helping to avoid conflicts within party hierarchies. Top political leaders in Bangladesh must play a dominant role in changing the political culture for the better.

Another essential role of senior leadership is grooming young and emerging leaders towards a just and ethical path, rather than encouraging unhealthy political engagements, patronage, and graft. Top party leaders should monitor and screen out party members involved in violence, coercion, and oppression. They must also adopt objective mechanisms to select and nominate candidates who are seen as clean and accountable to the public. Political parties should instil ethical and moral values in their members. Since political power has a natural tendency to corrupt, parties must develop institutional mechanisms to weed out corrupt elements. Such discipline will restore public confidence in political parties.

Like careers in the corporate or public sector, political careers require capacity-building. National-level leaders need specialised knowledge and skills in areas like economic policymaking, environmental management, health service delivery, and education. Local leaders aspiring to rise within the party must train themselves for higher responsibilities. High-level positions, such as cabinet posts, should be awarded to deserving and knowledgeable individuals who demonstrate credibility and competence.

Although there are training programmes for government officers, bank employees, doctors, and engineers, there is no dedicated institution for training political leaders. Political parties should arrange lifelong training for their members, and politicians should undertake self-learning. This will enable them to become independent decision-makers when in government, without overly relying on bureaucracy. Politics, by definition, is the art of solving societal problems, and politicians must acquire the necessary skills to fulfil this role.

Effective political leadership is essential for achieving democratic governance. Politicians should operate selflessly for the benefit of the masses and dedicate themselves to fulfilling people's rights. Top leaders must implement government policies honestly to achieve national and international goals, such as poverty alleviation, reducing inequality, addressing environmental concerns, and fostering social development. The current reform proposals being developed by the interim government will only succeed if elected political leaders implement them with sincerity, dedication, and honesty. Therefore, political parties must participate in the ongoing reform process and prepare themselves to shoulder this responsibility.

Dr Nawshad Ahmed, a retired UN official, is an economist and urban planner.​

 

[Saif]

জুলাই বিপ্লবের কন্যারা ইতিহাস পরিবর্তনের ‘নায়িকা’: প্রধান উপদেষ্টা

বাংলাদেশে জুলাই-আগস্ট গণঅভ্যুত্থানে অংশ নেওয়া মেয়েদের ইতিহাস পরিবর্তনের নায়িকা বলে সম্বোধন করেছেন প্রধান উপদেষ্টা ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস।

bangla.thedailystar.net

জুলাই বিপ্লবের কন্যারা ইতিহাস পরিবর্তনের ‘নায়িকা’: প্রধান উপদেষ্টা

বাংলাদেশে জুলাই-আগস্ট গণঅভ্যুত্থানে অংশ নেওয়া মেয়েদের ইতিহাস পরিবর্তনের নায়িকা বলে সম্বোধন করেছেন প্রধান উপদেষ্টা ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস।

তিনি বলেন, 'তোমরা বাংলাদেশকে যে পর্যায়ে নিয়ে গেছো, সেটা একটা ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনা। এই ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনার নায়িকারা বাংলাদেশে যা ঘটিয়েছে, তা পৃথিবীর অন্য কোথাও খুঁজে পাওয়া যাবে না। পৃথিবীতে অনেক অভ্যুত্থান হয়েছে। কিন্তু এটা সম্পূর্ণ ভিন্ন রকমের। কেউ তোমাদের উদ্বুদ্ধ করেনি। তোমরা নিজেরা স্বতঃস্ফূর্তভাবে অংশ নিয়েছো। এটা তোমাদের সম্পূর্ণ নিজেদের হাতে গড়া এক বিপ্লব।'

জুলাই বিপ্লবের কন্যাদের কীর্তিগাঁথা ও অবদানকে উপজীব্য করে 'জুলাইয়ের কন্যারা আমরা তোমাদের হারিয়ে যেতে দেবো না' শীর্ষক নারী সমাবেশে ড. ইউনূস এই কথা বলেন।

রাজধানীর ওসমানী স্মৃতি মিলনায়তনে মঙ্গলবার এই আয়োজন করে মহিলা ও শিশু বিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয় এবং সমাজকল্যাণ মন্ত্রণালয়।

এতে জুলাই মাসে বৈষম্যবিরোধী আন্দোলনে অংশ নেওয়া বিভিন্ন কলেজ, বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ‍ও অন্যান্য শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানের ছাত্রী এবং কর্মজীবী নারীরা অংশ নেন।

ড. ইউনূস বলেন, বাংলাদেশের মেয়েরা, স্কুল-কলেজ বা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় পড়ুয়া, চাকরিজীবী, পরিবারের যে যেখান থেকে পেরেছে সবাই বিপ্লরে যোগ দিয়েছে এবং সমানভাবে এগিয়ে এসেছে এবং একেবারে পরিবর্তন করে দিয়েছে। ৫ আগস্টের পর নতুন বাংলাদেশ তৈরি হয়েছে।

প্রধান উপদেষ্টা বলেন, 'এই নতুন বাংলাদেশ আমরা গড়ব, এটা আমাদের শপথ।'

গণঅভ্যুত্থানে হতাহতের শ্রদ্ধার সঙ্গে স্মরণ করে ড. ইউনূস বলেন, 'তোমরা যারা প্রাণ দিয়েছো, আহত হয়েছো, তোমাদেরকে আমরা ভুলিনি।'

অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকারের প্রধান বলেন, গণঅভ্যুত্থানের মাধ্যমে বাংলাদেশের মেয়েরা এমন শক্তি দেখিয়েছে, যা অন্য কোনো দেশের মেয়েরা এখনো দেখাতে পারেনি। এর পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে বলতে হয়, তোমরা অনেক এগিয়ে। এই যে এগিয়ে থাকাটা বিরাট সৌভাগ্যের ব্যাপার। তোমরা একটা সুযোগ পেয়েছো এবং সুযোগটা গ্রহণ করে দেখিয়ে দিয়েছো যে, আমাদের শক্তি আছে এবং আমরা সেটা প্রকাশ করতে পারি।

নতুন বাংলাদেশ গড়ে তোলার স্বপ্ন বাস্তবায়নের আগ পর্যন্ত সক্রিয় ভূমিকা পালনের আহ্বান জানিয়ে প্রধান উপদেষ্টা বলেন, 'তোমরা পুরোনো বাংলাদেশ বদলে নতুন বাংলাদেশ গড়ার যে ভূমিকা নিয়েছো, সেটা পূরণ করতে হবে। শুধু সরকারের ওপর দায়িত্ব ছেড়ে দিলে হবে না। এটার পেছনে থাকতে হবে, এটাকে প্রতিষ্ঠিত করতে হবে। যে নতুন বাংলাদেশের স্বপ্ন তোমাদের মনে আছে, বাংলাদেশের সব মানুষের মনে আছে, সেই বাংলাদেশকে গড়ে তুলতে হবে।'

তিনি বলেন, 'জুলাই-আগস্ট বিপ্লবের মধ্যে দিয়ে প্রমাণ করেছো তোমাদের প্রজন্ম একেবারে ভিন্ন। তোমরা মহাশক্তিশালী মানুষ। এই শক্তি শেষ হয়ে যায়নি, আমাদের পৃথিবীর সামনে আরও দৃষ্টান্তমূলক ইতিহাস সৃষ্টি করে যাব। তোমাদের কাছে সে সম্ভাবনা আছে।'

ড. ইউনূস নতুন প্রজন্মের মেয়েদেরকে ভুলপথে না যাওয়ার পরামর্শ দিয়ে বলেন, 'তোমাদের মধ্যে যে সম্ভাবনা আছে সেটাকে সঠিকভাবে কাজে লাগাতে পারলে সম্পূর্ণ নতুন এক বাংলাদেশ গড়ে তুলতে পারবে।'

কেবল বাংলাদেশ নয়, নতুন এক পৃথিবী গড়ে তোলার মহাকর্মযজ্ঞে নিজেদের সম্পৃক্ত হওয়ার আহ্বান জানান তিনি।

এ সময় শিক্ষার্থীরা উৎসাহ ও উদ্দীপনায় তাদের আশা-আকাঙ্ক্ষা ও দাবির কথা তুলে ধরেন এবং ড. ইউনূস তা মনোযোগ দিয়ে শোনেন।​