"Second Independence" is emotional expression

Nurul Haque Nur, the former Vice President of Dhaka University Central Student Union (DUCSU), came into the limelight during the 2018 quota reform movement as a joint convener of the Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad. In 2019, he founded the political party Gono Odhikar Parishad. He is currently the coordinator of the Student, Youth, and Expatriate Rights Council and the president of a faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad. He discussed contemporary political issues with Views Bangladesh. The interview was conducted by Tasnuva Purba.

Views Bangladesh: The terms "fall of authoritarianism" and "independence" are distinctly different. The fall of Ershad's government in the nineties was labeled as "fall of authoritarianism." However, the fall of the Hasina government is referred to as "Second Independence." Is this merely an immature expression of emotion, or is there a specific political agenda or reason behind it? Why is the term "Second Independence" being used?

Nurul Haque Nur: Many people don’t think deeply about the implications of the terms they use. Independence is something that every nation achieves only once. We often refer to it as the "Second Liberation Struggle." We attained our independence in 1971 and established a sovereign nation-state, but we never achieved political and economic liberation. Even in an independent country, people have lived in subjugation for a long time. After independence, we were often under Indian influence. There has always been Indian aggression in cultural and economic spheres. Therefore, we can refer to the fall of a fascist government backed by India as a form of "liberation." However, the term "Second Independence" cannot be accurately described in the language of social or political sciences. It may serve as an expression of people's emotions.

Views Bangladesh: Do you believe that religious political parties are repeatedly being used by the Awami League and BNP for their own interests? Has this usage hindered the political development of Bangladesh?

Nurul Haque Nur: Religious parties have the freedom to decide what they will do, who they will be used by, and with whom they will form alliances. I don't want to comment on this. Whether it has hindered the political development of Bangladesh is a sensitive issue (laughs). I will refrain from making any comments on that.

Views Bangladesh: If the interim government forms a national government, what role would your party play in that?

Nurul Haque Nur: Our stance is clear. Those who have been in the struggle on the streets in the past, including BNP and Jamaat, can have representatives in a national government. If we receive a proposal for representation, we will consider it. However, it doesn't mean we must provide a representative from our party. It is important to include individuals from each party who are acceptable and can play a strong role in governance at this moment. If the government structure includes representatives from all political parties, it will reduce the distance between the government and the political parties. In the past two months, distrust and suspicion have developed between the government and political parties. Since students were at the forefront of the movement and they want to form political parties, we now need to see if they want to be part of the "Kings Party" or if they want to establish a party using state resources. The more understanding and discussions among political parties, the clearer things will become. The government's strength lies in its opposition parties. Those previous authoritarian figures are virtually gone now. If other political parties do not support the government, it will be difficult for the government to survive in this unstable situation. Therefore, we want the interim government structure to be formed as a "national government."

Views Bangladesh: At one point of time, you were a political mentor for several coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement. There are allegations that the actions of some current coordinators have generated annoyance or resentment among the general public. What do you think is the cause of this discontent?

Nurul Haque Nur: People always want to achieve more than their current capabilities. After reaching one destination, they aspire to go to another. This is a natural tendency. Many who started this movement with me have received personal support from our party. There is still an understanding among us. However, it’s true that the general public’s trust, admiration, and respect for the students involved in this movement have significantly diminished over the past two months. This is especially due to the actions of some coordinators, such as the controversies surrounding the distribution of aid at TSC and their involvement in appointing DCs (Deputy Commissioners) and SPs (Superintendents of Police) in the Secretariat. People have not reacted well to this. How can an undergraduate student appoint a DC or SP? Are they in a position like Secretary or Joint Secretary? I have also heard about this. But I don’t know exactly who they are. Additionally, they have sworn in teachers at Shahjalal University in Sylhet and received guard of honor at Kushtia Islamic University. These incidents have irritated people. There’s a saying: "When you squeeze a lemon too much, it becomes bitter."

Views Bangladesh: How much will the general public benefit from this movement? Commodity prices are rising uncontrollably, and gas prices have increased twice in the past month. Which direction is the country heading? Has the market system truly become free from syndicates or extortion? While there may have been a change in power, has the culture of occupation really changed?

Nurul Haque Nur: This government has not been in power for long, so we need to give them some time. In that sense, I do not see the recent rise in commodity prices or gas prices as extremely harmful. The economy was at a standstill during the past month and a half of protests, and it will take time to recover from that. During the last authoritarian regime, ten to twelve companies controlled the entire syndicate and siphoned off a lot of money. We are seeing how the Awami League has engaged in corruption and occupation. We need to identify those who are currently involved and bring them under the law. The public, law enforcement agencies, and the government must work together to remove the new occupiers, extortionists, and looters, just as we removed the Awami League.

Views Bangladesh: You are a former VP of DUCSU. There are many opinions regarding the ban of student politics, both in favor and against it. What do you think? Is it possible to create apolitical student organizations to ensure the rights of ordinary students, outside of political party agendas?

Nurul Haque Nur: Student organizations should primarily work for the rights of educational institutions and ordinary students, and to prepare future leaders. Leadership is not just political; we need leaders in economic, cultural, and international arenas as well. It's essential to cultivate capable young individuals in all these fields. The fundamental goal of education is to develop human qualities, and student organizations must play a role in that. From this perspective, I believe there is a need to change the functioning of student organizations. The Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad was the first to bring about change in student politics and gave it a shake-up. I believe that regular student union elections in all higher education institutions would put an end to evil politics.

Views Bangladesh: What preparations is Gono Odhikar Parishad making for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections?

Nurul Haque Nur: Right now, we are focusing on organizing our party, building political understanding among our leaders and activists, and trying to understand the current needs and aspirations of the people. Since there are many stages in our local government structure, from union councils to national elections, strong leadership is essential. We are working on developing suitable leadership, and if we find common ground with any party in the context of the upcoming elections, we might form a coalition for the greater interest of the country and the nation. Otherwise, we are preparing to move forward as an alternative force. The general public sees Gono Odhikar Parishad as an alternative power. If we mix with an alliance right from the start, it could hinder the development of our emerging party. That's why our leaders and activists want Gono Odhikar Parishad to contest the elections independently, whether it's six months or six years from now.

Views Bangladesh: If elections are held in the near future, do you believe Gono Odhikar Parishad has the capability to field candidates in all 300 constituencies?

Nurul Haque Nur: Before we officially announced ourselves as a political party, I mentioned that if Gono Odhikar Parishad is formed, it would step forward as an alternative force and field candidates in all 300 seats. At this moment, we have the recognition and capability to contest in about 90 percent of the constituencies. We've seen a strong desire for change among the people in recent times.

Views Bangladesh: There are differing opinions among the public regarding the rewriting and reforming of the onstitution. What is your perspective on this issue?

Nurul Haque Nur: If we cannot change the mindset of our people or create awareness within society, simply rewriting or reforming the Constitution or creating new laws will not lead to any meaningful change. We haven't even become true citizens yet. We often vote based on symbols without careful consideration, or we sell our votes for small amounts of money before elections. If we cannot make ourselves free from this culture of voting based on symbols or change our mindset, then even with constitutional amendments, we won't achieve anything substantial. However, in light of this movement, some people believe we need a new Constitution that guarantees fundamental rights, political rights, economic rights, and the right to security for the people. It is also essential to ensure that no one becomes an authoritarian by seizing power or being in power. In this context, drafting a new Constitution is indeed a demand of the times.