Speakers reach consensus at CGS dialogue: Political crisis must be resolved by political leadership

Advisor on Environment, Forests, Climate Change and Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (21 September) stressed that freedom, especially the freedom to access justice in a timely manner, should not be taken for granted.

Now that people “can finally talk,” she encouraged them to be constructive, define their goals and listen to each other.

“The path to reform was the path to realizing their dreams,” she said during the dialogue moderated by Zillur Rahman, executive director of CGS.

Rizwana Hasan expressed gratitude to the many people who joined the protest.

She admitted that others suffered more than she did.

For her, justice was getting her family back, because at that moment asking for anything more seemed impossible.

“Public support has taught me that doing what is right ultimately bears fruit. A fascist regime does not become fascist in isolation; it corrupts the justice system, the media, civil society and other institutions,” the adviser said.

Even if the law is changed, those who implement it often continue to support the regime, she added.

Her personal dreams included independence – personal, professional and national.

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted a dialogue today at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).

The dialogue included guests who spoke out about the persecution of the previous regime and had to face challenges because of their actions.

Prominent figures from all walks of life spoke about the many hardships and discrimination they experienced under the previous regime.

Speakers also focused on the kind of changes and reforms they would like to see in Bangladesh’s future, while expressing general concern over the government’s apparent inaction in response to recent social unrest.

During the discussions, the need for greater transparency in the actions of the transitional government and a more inclusive approach was raised.

Zillur began by stating that for 15 years, people had been fighting for their dreams, often doubting whether they would be able to achieve them.

“Many have sacrificed their lives for these dreams. Over the past 15 years, all national institutions have been destroyed and corruption has become endemic,” he said.

“Many resisted the tyranny of authoritarianism in the country and suffered as a result. Among those gathered today were people who fought and suffered. But the fight was far from over,” he added.

Munira Khan said the government needs to show more transparency and take time for proper planning.

Their spokespersons should report on their activities and progress. She expressed hope that the interim government would hold free and fair elections.

Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj noted that the shrinking of civic space is creating an information vacuum, which makes non-conventional media increasingly important.

He noted that when he started working in Bangladesh, the economy was good, but now there were questions about why non-governmental and civil society organizations were not doing enough.

He stressed that it is crucial to understand the restrictive legal environment in which they operate.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Electoral Reform Commission and secretary of SHUJAN, stressed that citizens must seize the opportunity that is opening before them.

He stressed on the importance of everyone playing their part, otherwise the dream, spirit and expectations will remain incomplete. He shared that he and his family were discriminated against by both the Awami League and BNP governments.

Still, he saw today as a remarkable opportunity and stressed the importance of unity and checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.

Advocate Andaleeve Rahman, chairwoman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, stressed the need for good people in politics.

He warned that if corrupt people enter politics, they will ruin any system.

He called for reforms to allow good people to enter politics, noting that politicians are no longer seen as heroes.

Although he was optimistic about the media, he believed that the current government had poor contact with society and that it was necessary to implement the reforms demanded by the society.

Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, a member of the DSA Victims Network, has recounted how he was arrested after he posted on social media about irregularities in relief funds during the COVID-19 lockdown.

He was interrogated for seven hours, accused of treason and conspiracy without evidence. He asked why the DSA cases had not yet been dismissed, arguing that these “black laws” used to suppress people should be transferred to a museum.

Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of Ganosanghati Andolan, discussed how the quota movement evolved into the one-point demand after more than a decade of struggle.

He stressed that the political forces involved in the uprising must be taken into account in the current trial. Fascist forces were still active.

He added that during the protest against the deaths of students on July 19, the police were used against them in an unprecedented way.

He himself was injured in a baton attack and later, after being taken from the hospital, was beaten on the street by Chhatra League members.

Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad, shared that he has been on a TV blacklist for a long time, along with the likes of Asif Nazrul and Nurul Kabir. Agencies warned him that they would monitor his movements and even threatened to attack him if he went anywhere without their permission, which eventually materialised.

He spoke of the oppression and repression experienced by various governments and expressed hope for real reform under the current caretaker government.

However, he criticized the government for acting in an exclusive manner and failing to consult political parties, the main stakeholders in governing the country.

Pritom Das, member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, shared his experience of being falsely accused of hurting religious sentiments.

He was later arrested because of his political activism and social media posts and spent five months in prison. He recounted how the communal violence in the region affected him, leading to social isolation as even friends and relatives stopped contacting him.

Rezaul Karim Rony, editor-in-chief of Joban, highlighted the unrest in both the hills and the plains, pointing out that many people still behave like fascists despite having lived under fascism for so long.

He called for true independence for the people and questioned what kind of independence they really wanted. He shared his disappointment with the mainstream media, recounting an experience when he translated a significant report against a former prime minister, only to find that no one else in the media dared to publish it.

Major Rezaul Karim, a former military officer who was dismissed from service for political reasons, recounted his experiences during BDR killings while he was stationed at RAB.

He and his companions were denied permission to operate and were later branded a terrorist, blindfolded and interrogated. He spent five years in prison and insisted that he had been wronged.

Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, a teacher and political analyst, reflected on the atmosphere of fear and self-censorship in society.

He recounted how even he avoided directly mentioning members of the ruling family in his public appearances. He emphasized that the fear, while justified, was often exaggerated.

Masood Kamal, a senior journalist, humbly admitted that he was simply continuing with the journalism he had always known. He noted that he never believed that the media would be as free as it is now and expressed hope that the government would listen to constructive criticism.

Michael Chakma, an organizer of the United People’s Democratic Front, said he was kept in darkness for five years after his kidnapping.

He highlighted the inhumane treatment he had suffered and questioned whether his crime was defending the political rights of his people.

He called for a solution for the mountainous areas that did not involve military rule.

U Mimi Marma, special correspondent for IPNEWS BD, spoke from the perspective of a student and an indigenous person.

She highlighted the ongoing violence and lack of justice for indigenous people, especially in the Khagrachari region, and expressed her frustration and hope that justice would prevail in the new Bangladesh.

Kalpana Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, recounted how her work on labour rights was often suppressed, leading to surveillance, interrogation and labelling her a foreign agent.

She appealed to journalists to pursue the truth, even if it is difficult.

Qadaruddin Shishir, AFP’s fact check editor in Bangladesh, said most of the disinformation he had encountered came from within the state itself.

Despite attempts by influential figures to take him over, he remained true to his journalistic integrity and shared the dream of a truly independent media in Bangladesh.

Khadijatul Kubra, a student at Jagannath University, has written about her experience of being arrested under the DSA, which put her education and life on hold for a long period. Now that she has finally been able to speak out again, she expressed her desire to work with others who have experienced discrimination.

Umama Fatema, coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination movement, praised the contribution of the people of Bangladesh in overthrowing the regime of Sheikh Hasina and spoke about the sense of power and ownership that students experienced during the protests.

Mamun Abdullah, liaison coordinator of Students Against Discrimination, recounted how he was unable to stay in university hostels due to pressure and surveillance from the Chhatra League.

He expressed disappointment over the lack of consensus on human dignity in the country and warned that the revolutionary spirit of the 2024 mass uprising may not manifest itself again unless real reforms are implemented.