RAJSHAHI — The government formed after the next general election must be compelled to act on the demands of last year’s July uprising, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman said Thursday. “If we think our revolution ended last year, we are mistaken. It is ongoing. This revolution will continue until the demands of July are fully implemented,” he said.
Speaking as chief guest at a seminar titled “Successes and Failures of the Uprising and Mass Movement: From Nov. 7 to Aug. 5” at the senate building of Rajshahi University on Thursday afternoon, Rahman said the parliamentary election is critical and urgent. The 13th national parliamentary election must be held on time. If voting is delayed, Delhi will exploit the resulting instability, he said. For that reason, the election must take place on schedule.
Voicing concerns about a “free and fair” election, he said that without a purge, administrative and bureaucratic obstacles remain visible. The activities of Awami League allies have raised significant doubts about whether a free and impartial vote is possible. One major reason, he said, is that many do not want to call the July uprising a revolution. Even the current government hesitates to call it a revolution. Otherwise, they would have declared a revolutionary government. The fact that this government cannot embrace the revolution is why it has been unable to carry out a purge, he said.
Calling on July revolutionaries to remain united, Rahman said: “When they went out to face bullets, no one wanted to be a minister. Our young generation succeeded in the revolution because they wanted to be like Abu Sayed. The people who carried out this revolution are the ones who can put Bangladesh on the right path. Stay united. As long as you remain united, Bangladesh will not lose its way. Everyone must stay vigilant to keep Bangladesh on the right path.”
The event was chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Saleh Hasan Naqib. Special guests included Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Moh. Main Uddin, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr. Moh. Farid Uddin Khan, Emeritus Professor Dr. Azharul Islam, and Registrar Professor Dr. Iftekharul Alam Masud.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report