BNP and several other political parties raise questions about the Students Against Discrimination’s decision to proclaim what it calls the July Revolution while Jamaat welcomes it.
Sources in the BNP say their leaders apprehend that this move may delay the next election. They also wonder why the students are doing this five months after the uprising.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. The BNP wants an election at the earliest and believes that only an elected government can run the country.
Ganosamhati Andolon and Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders say the Students Against Discrimination is trying to make it seem like it alone led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5.
Students’ Convener Hasnat Abdullah yesterday said the Mujibbadi constitution of 1972 must be buried by the Proclamation of July Revolution.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh says the people will not accept any move to disown the constitution.
But BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the constitution written in 1972 came at the cost of the blood of 30 lakh martyrs.
“As your elders, we feel disappointed when you say that the constitution should be buried. If there is anything bad in the constitution, it can be amended,” he said at an event.
“I would like to tell the student leaders not to misunderstand us. When you say things like this, it sounds like fascism. The fascists used to say, ‘We will bury them, kill them, and cut them apart,” he was quoted as saying by UNB.
Wishing anonymity, a central committee member of the BNP said, “The students have taken the initiative all of a sudden. There are many reasons to think this move is aimed at delaying the election. BNP wants to give the interim government the time that is logical to make some necessary reforms. It should not be unlimited time.”
CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said the 1972 constitution was the outcome of the country’s long struggle.
“The constitution and its preamble — nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism — were adopted as a continuation of the 21-point demands of the 1954 Jukta Front, the 11-point demands of 1969, and the Declaration of Independence during the Liberation War. Those who refuse to acknowledge this or want to repeal the 1972 Constitution and its preamble, are essentially disowning the Liberation War,” he said.
Jamaat spokesperson Motiur Rahman Akanda said, “We must welcome the Students Against Discrimination which is set to proclaim on December 31 the July mass uprising as a revolution. They led the mass uprising against the fascist Awami League government.
“We will express our formal reaction after we know what is in the proclamation. We think the students can make such a proclamation. There is nothing wrong with it.”
Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan said, “It is a whimsical decision by the students. If the students make any decision without consulting with political parties and other stakeholders, their move will raise questions. Before making decisions, the students should talk to others.”
Rashed also said making the proclamation so late defied logic. “It should be declared before the movement,” he said, adding that students now want to take all the credit although many political parties, organisations and individuals were behind the movement.
A leader of Ganosamhati Andolon, wishing anonymity, said students were making the move for political gains.