Information adviser Nahid Islam on Thursday said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir鈥檚 statement regarding the need for a neutral government indicated that they wanted another 1/11 government.
Taking to his verified Facebook account, Nahid, also one of the student coordinators who led the July uprising, said that Awami fascism emerged from the 1/11 settlement. He then stated that the BNP secretary general鈥檚 statement indicated another 1/11 government ahead, a parliamentary majority, the continuation of a kneejerk foreign policy, and justice purged for the disappearances, murders and July massacres.
In an interview with BBC Bangla on Tuesday, Mirza Fakhrul said, 鈥業f the interim government maintains complete neutrality, they will remain until the elections are conducted. Otherwise, a neutral government will be needed.鈥�
In response to Fakhrul鈥檚 statement, Nahid said that a plot to eliminate the students and the leadership of the mass uprising began just on August 5.
鈥極n August 5, while students and the public were protesting on the streets amid relentless police firing, many of our national leaders seeking compromise, were focused on planning a new government at the cantonment, keeping people out (and some even spoke regarding the students there),鈥� the post read.
Nahid said that the BNP discussed a minus two formula just a few days ago, but was now proposing another 1/11 government in the name of a neutral government to smooth its path to power.
鈥楽uch a plan will go against democracy and national interests, and the students and people will never accept it. And I believe it is a conspiracy against BNP as well,鈥� the adviser said.
The Facebook post mentioned that since August 3, they (student leaders) had consistently stated their opposition to any form of military rule or a state of emergency.
Despite repeated requests to go to the cantonment, they had declined and ultimately, after discussions and negotiations at Bangabhaban, the president鈥檚 official residence, the decision to form an interim government led by Professor Yunus was reached, Nahid claimed.
鈥榃e wanted a national government consisting of anti-fascist political parties and civil society. If there was a national government, students might not have needed to come to the government,鈥� he said.
In his post, Nahid also mentioned that the BNP did not agree to a national government, as they believed it would last for a long time.
After the July uprising, the need for a national government was most urgent, yet BNP was now discussing a national government only after the coming elections, he said.
鈥楾he students are the only factor in this government and the existing reality that completely separates the current government from the 1/11 government,鈥� the Facebook post said.
Nahid said that although the incumbent government was not a national government, all parties involved in the movement had a stake in it while benefiting from it in various manners.聽
Before the government was formed, the attorney general and the former inspector general of police, who were mainly BNP affiliates, were appointed on August 6, the adviser said in his post.
In this way, BNP supporters are present at various levels of the government, from top to bottom. When discussing the impartiality of the election, this reality must also be considered.
Nahid also said that the BNP opposed on all the issues of changing the president, reforms, formulating new constitution and the July uprising proclamation, but none of these were any partisan demands of the students.
Despite this, the students have repeatedly stepped back from their stance in order to maintain the country鈥檚 stability, broader interests and national unity, he continued.
鈥楤ut this does not mean that if there is any plan that is anti-democratic and goes against the will of the mass uprising, we will make any concessions,鈥� the post read.
Nahid in his Facebook post urged the patriotic and dedicated leadership of the BNP to choose a path of greater unity with the student and masses, instead of opposing the uprising.