[🇧🇩] Student Revolution: Lessons from Bangladesh

[Saif]

We haven’t started drafting July proclamation yet, says Advisor Rizwana

Drafting of July proclamation yet to begin: Rizwana The interim government has yet to begin drafting the July proclamation despite a 15-day deadline set by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens’ Committee. Speaking to journalists outside the Secretariat on Wedne

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

We haven’t started drafting July proclamation yet, says Advisor Rizwana
bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 01, 2025 19:43
Updated :
Jan 01, 2025 19:45

Drafting of July proclamation yet to begin: Rizwana

The interim government has yet to begin drafting the July proclamation despite a 15-day deadline set by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens’ Committee.

Speaking to journalists outside the Secretariat on Wednesday, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan provided an update on the status of the proclamation and responded to inquiries about its progress.

“We have not drafted the 'July proclamation' yet. The drafting process will begin soon,” she said.

When asked about consensus among all parties, Rizwana expressed optimism, saying: “Most parties broadly agree on the necessity of a proclamation. We expect their support.

“Since everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the drafting process, there should be no reason for disagreement.”

The advisor claimed that the Muhammad Yunus-led government prioritises both reforms and elections in its agenda.

She said, “From discussions with politicians, it’s clear that there is a desire for reforms. Some want fundamental reforms before elections, while others prioritise elections first.

“For us, both issues hold equal importance.”

Regarding BNP’s demand for elections, Rizwana said: “During discussions with BNP, they never said reforms are unnecessary.

“They recognise the need for reforms and are offering their own views on the matter.”

She continued, “They are also providing written opinions. This indicates that politicians also want reforms.

“The extent of the reforms, the areas they will cover, and the mechanisms for implementing them are aspects where politicians hold specific positions.

“Our chief advisor has said that a separate commission will be formed to reach a consensus, and he will lead it himself.”

Rizwana clarified that a legal process is already under way regarding the repatriation of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

She said, “A letter has been sent as part of the legal process to bring Sheikh Hasina back. We have made our stance clear on the matter, and we have also highlighted our treaty with India, which includes certain exceptions.

“What stance India will take and how long it will take is uncertain, but we must leave that for the future.

“Our position remains that we want trials to take place in her presence. If that is not possible, we will proceed with the judicial process as required.”

In response to a question about whether the Awami League will be able to contest elections, Rizwana said: “It is not for us to decide which parties will contest. Any party wishing to participate can do so.

“These matters will be handled by the Election Commission.”

She concluded, “The government has not yet expressed any opinion on this matter. No stance has been taken regarding banning the Awami League.”​

 

[Saif]

Ensuring unity of uprising actors

The year 2024 is lost in the layers of time. Just like any other year in the Gregorian calendar, it was comprised of 12 months, 52 weeks and 366 days. Yet, it was profoundly distinct in its essence, as the events that unfolded during this period reshaped lives, politics, system of governance, and,

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Ensuring unity of uprising actors
Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jan 01, 2025 21:24
Updated :
Jan 01, 2025 21:24

The year 2024 is lost in the layers of time. Just like any other year in the Gregorian calendar, it was comprised of 12 months, 52 weeks and 366 days. Yet, it was profoundly distinct in its essence, as the events that unfolded during this period reshaped lives, politics, system of governance, and, overall, the course of Bangladesh's history. The bygone year has assumed such significance that it is being compared to 1971, the year Bangladesh achieved independence. This is because 2024 witnessed the rebirth of Bangladesh. Under a decade and a half of autocratic and corrupt rule by Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime, not only had democracy lost its course, but also all other sacred founding principles of the nation, such as liberty, equality, and justice, were being trampled upon. Moreover, it was widely seen as a puppet government of a neighbouring country. In July, when the despot attempted to crack down on a peaceful student protest, it sparked a mass uprising that ultimately led to the downfall of the tyrant.

The enormity of this transformative event, which placed Bangladesh on the right course of democratic transition, is so significant that The Economist named Bangladesh its "Country of the Year" for 2024. This recognition, however, does not imply that Bangladesh has achieved a miraculous success overnight in its system of governance or economic performance. Rather, it acknowledges the potential unleashed by this transformative change. Now, in 2025, the foundation for realising this potential must be laid. In that sense, the year 2025 is extremely important for Bangladesh and the interim government must prove its mettle in reforming and rebuilding the democratic institutions and steering the nation towards a sustainable democratic future.

In 2025, the toughest challenge will be to keep the reform process on track, because unity among various parties on the issue of the July-August uprising is already frayed, and patience is wearing thin among certain political parties. Of the 15 reform commissions that the government formed to propose reform measures on various state affairs, six are slated to submit their reports in January. Then the National Consensus Building Commission will explore the areas on which consensus can be established and reforms can be implemented by exchanging views with the political parties and other stakeholders.

The Chief Advisor has outlined two potential timelines for national elections: one by late 2025 with minimal reforms, and another by the first half of 2026 with extensive reforms. Without a comprehensive overhaul of democratic institutions such as the Election Commission, Judiciary, Public Administration, Police, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), elections and the mere transfer of power may fail to address the deep-seated ills afflicting the state. In such a case, the country risks reverting to the old way of things and the sacrifice of nearly 2,000 martyrs and 33,000 wounded will be in vain.

Therefore, while the government is trying to reform the state, political parties should focus on internal reforms to ensure intra-party democracy. As the adage goes, "charity begins at home," so too must reform. Democracy is more than just holding elections. Despite elections having been held at regular intervals since independence, Bangladesh has yet to develop a healthy democratic culture, largely due to the undemocratic character of mainstream political parties. Even though the parties claim to be in the vanguard of democratic struggles in the country, their leaders are not democratically elected. Even party decisions are not reached through democratic processes. Instead, party decisions often reflect the will of party leaders rather than the collective will of the party. This practice undermines internal democracy and can lead to authoritarian tendencies within the party itself. If political parties are governed internally in a fascist manner, they are likely to replicate these authoritarian tendencies when they assume power.

So, in order to realise the aspiration of July-August uprising of building a democratic and discrimination-free country, political parties must undergo significant internal reforms and practice intra-party democracy. How they elect leaders, nominate candidates, mobilise funds, and the sources of income for party leaders and activists must be transparent and accountable. Politics must not be treated as a profession; it should be viewed as a mission to serve the public. And there should be strict guidelines prohibiting the use of students, religion or the place of worship for political purposes.

Another pressing agenda of the year is the prosecution of those responsible for the July-August massacre. The nation owes it to the martyrs of the uprising, to history, and to the 400 individuals who lost their eyesight and countless others who suffered the loss of limbs after being injured by bullets during the uprising. The stage is set for the trials at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), and any progress in this regard is being watched with the utmost anxiety by the entire nation.

Luckily, there is no dissenting voice among the stakeholders of the uprising regarding the trial procedure. Some, however, are raising questions about whether the trial should be completed during the tenure of the interim government or whether it should be carried forward to the next elected government. But the interim government should at least complete the trials of those accused of commtting atrocities. The trials must be conducted fairly, transparently, and in accordance with international standards to ensure that their outcomes are beyond reproach.

Last but not least, while the government has managed to bring about a modicum of order and stability in the macroeconomic and financial sectors, economic challenges before the government are still far from over. Inflation and unemployment rates are stubbornly high, while the influence of oligarchic business interests continues to distort market dynamics. The government faces the daunting task of revitalising a stagnating economy, accelerating growth, and stimulating trade and investment, all the while navigating the constraints of a contractionary monetary policy. Decisive actions will also be required to address frequent workers' unrest, resolve power and fuel supply crises, mitigate liquidity problems in the banking sector, and manage high interest rates.

Amidst these multifaceted challenges, all stakeholders of the July-August uprising must remain united to ensure successful implementation of reforms in the national interest. A divided stance will not only weaken the government but also invite interference from conspirators and external actors.​

 

[Saif]

July proclamation: Students to hold nationwide campaign

The Students Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee will campaign from January 6-11 across the country to listen to what people want so that their hopes and aspirations are reflected in the proclamation on July uprising.

www.thedailystar.net

July proclamation: Students to hold nationwide campaign

The Students Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee will campaign from January 6-11 across the country to listen to what people want so that their hopes and aspirations are reflected in the proclamation on July uprising.

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the students' platform, announced the programme at a jointly held press conference at the organisation's central office in the capital's Bangla Motor yesterday afternoon.

"We will distribute leaflets, hold rallies, and engage with people from all segments of the society," he said.

Hasnat said the campaign will cover all districts and upazilas.

"The July-August uprising saw participation from all segments of society, from marginalised communities to urban residents. We hope this proclamation will reflect their hopes and aspirations."

The government pledged to issue a proclamation through national consensus, but no visible progress has been made, Hasnat noted.

"Drafting this proclamation is a critical matter. Although we were ready to announce it on December 31, we refrained when the interim government assumed responsibility. Now, we urge the government to act promptly."

Hasnat said the student platform is ready to share its draft should the government seek its input.

Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the citizens' platform, warned of tougher programmes unless the government showed visible progress by a few days.

Nasiruddin said he thought an election for a constituent assembly was necessary to enshrine the people's rights.

"Both parliamentary election and a constituent assembly election can take place simultaneously."

The press conference was moderated by Abdul Hannan Masud, chief organiser of the student platform.​

 

[Saif]

‘Proclamation Week’ announced in Jan 6–11

The Student Movement Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Saturday jointly announced ‘Proclamation Week’ from January 6 to 11, urging the interim government to formally...

www.newagebd.net

‘Proclamation Week’ announced in Jan 6–11
Staff Correspondent 05 January, 2025, 00:30

The Student Movement Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagarik Committee jointly hold a press conference regarding the Proclamation Week from January 6 to 11 at the office of the Student Movement Against Discrimination in Dhaka on Saturday. | New Age photo

The Student Movement Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Saturday jointly announced ‘Proclamation Week’ from January 6 to 11, urging the interim government to formally proclaim the July Uprising by January 15 as per its commitment.

The leaders of the two organisations announced the programme at a press conference held at the office of the Student Movement Against Discrimination in the city.

They also warned of a tougher movement if the government failed to make any visible progress soon regarding the July uprising proclamation.

The weeklong nationwide campaign demanding the proclamation would feature leaflet distribution, rallies and public outreach activities.

Student Movement Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah said that they would engage with the public to ensure their aspirations are reflected in the proclamation.

Throughout the next week, programmes demanding the proclamation would be organised in every district, he said.

Hasnat said that the outreach efforts would also engage with all levels of society, including students, citizens, professionals, farmers, and workers across districts and upazilas.

‘During the “March for Unity” programme held at the Central Shaheed Minar on December 31, we demanded that the government announce the July Uprising proclamation by January 15, but unfortunately no visible initiatives have been taken in this regard so far,’ he said.

If the government takes effective initiatives regarding the declaration, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee are ready to express their opinions on the matter.

Jatiya Nagorik Committee convener Nasiruddin Patwary said that if no visible and effective initiatives were taken in the following days for the proclamation, they would move towards stricter measures.

‘We were ready to proclaim the July uprising on December 31 at the Central Shaheed Minar, but we did not as the interim government promised to prepare a proclamation of the July mass uprising based on national consensus,’ he said.

Nasiruddin said that the announcement of the proclamation was important and it must honour the aspirations of people, who from all walks of life participated in the uprising.

He also said that there was no disagreement between political parties on the July Proclamation but there were some differences in viewpoint, and the Student Movement Against Discrimination was able to resolve those differences.

At the press conference, the two platforms presented a set of demands, stressing the importance of official recognition of the uprising martyrs and state-provided medical treatment for those injured during that time.

They also demanded a clear commitment from the government to hold the trial of those responsible for the killings.

Having called for the abolition of the existing constitution and creation of a new, the student leaders demanded a democratic constitution through an elected constituent assembly.

The organisations also demanded that the leadership of the Student Movement Against Discrimination must be clearly recognised in the proclamation of the uprising.

They also demanded that the proclamation should establish a clear connection between the July 2024 uprising, the 1947 partition, and the 1971 War of Independence, ensuring continuity in the struggle for justice.

The Student Movement Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee also called for a new political settlement prioritising a state structure with civic identity at its core, aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination.​

 

[Saif]

July uprising: Govt to sit with parties for draft proclamation

The interim government will hold talks with the political parties soon and prepare the draft of the July uprising proclamation based on the outcome of the dialogues, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.

www.thedailystar.net

July uprising: Govt to sit with parties for draft proclamation
CA’s press secretary says the draft proclamation will be based on the dialogues

Shafiqul Alam

The interim government will hold talks with the political parties soon and prepare the draft of the July uprising proclamation based on the outcome of the dialogues, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.

He, however, did not give any dates for the talks.

About whether the proclamation would be announced by January 15, as per the deadline set by the Anti-discrimination Students' Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, he said they will announce it "soon".

The two platforms on December 30 said they would announce the July mass uprising proclamation the next day.

Initially, the CA Press Wing had said the government had no involvement in the student leaders' proclamation event.

However, that very night it said it would take initiative to prepare the proclamation based on national consensus.

Following that, the student leaders after a late-night meeting announced a "March for Unity" programme in support of the interim government's initiative.

WORKING TO BRING HASINA BACK

Shafiqul also said the interim government is working relentlessly to extradite fallen autocrat Shiekh Hasina from India.

"It's the government's top priority. She had been involved in enforced disappearance, killings, kleptocracy, and siphoned off billions of public money. She must face trial," he said, adding that nobody in the world "wants to give space to a killer".

"Many in the Indian media didn't know the horrors of Hasina. Many have started writing [about it] recently. When the whole world will know, the pressure will mount. We'll do our best to bring her back. If not, those who will come to power will do so later as it is a generational issue…. It's the nation's desire. We're very hopeful."

Shafiqul further said they have not yet heard anything from the Indian side regarding Hasina's extradition request through the note verbale by Bangladesh. "But the government's efforts are still underway to bring her back."

He also said the government is investigating reports of Awami League leaders fleeing after August 5, and assured that the probe will be conducted by honest officials.

"Investigations led by officials from the previous Awami League government may not yield good results."

Regarding criticism of the recently-approved draft of the Cyber Protection Ordinance-2024 by Transparency International Bangladesh, the press secretary said, "We welcome any kind of the criticism and take them positively. Asif Nazrul will talk speak on this issue soon."

Shafiqul noted that the commission investigating enforced disappearances is doing good work.

He mentioned plans to arrange visits for journalists to a few of the "Aynaghors (detention centers)" to showcase the horrific methods used for disappearances.

Highlighting incidents like irregularities in three previous elections, the Shapla Chattar crackdown, and money laundering cases during Hasina's rule, Shafiqul said that each issue is being addressed.

He added that the Police Bureau of Investigation is working hard to expedite the investigation of the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

Responding a query, Shafiqul said state media exists in every country, and it plays an important role.

"BTV [Bangladesh Television] and BSS [Bangladesh Sangbad Shangstha] have been granted independence and are free to exercise press freedom according to their roles. Over the past five months, media in the country has enjoyed unprecedented freedom."

Asked whether BSS will report on the corruption during the AL regime, he said, "We don't interfere in their management. We hope they'll design their programmes reflecting the spirit of the July uprising."

Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Press Secretary Azad Majumder said many European countries have initiated relocating their visa centres from Delhi to Dhaka, or another neighbouring country, upon the request of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

"Bulgaria has already announced transferring its visa centre for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam. Romania has announced the issuance of visas from the embassies in Vietnam and Thailand. Kazakhstan also said it will issue visas to Bangladeshi students from Bangkok."​