We Must Be United on the Question of 1971

(After the First Part)

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, the head of the Electoral Reform Commission, is an economist, development worker, political analyst, local government and election expert. On November 29, he talked to Views Bangladesh to discuss electoral reform, the new Election Commission, and the framework for elections. Today, the second part of his interview is being published. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh Editor Rased Mehedi.

Views Bangladesh: Over the past few days, there seems to be increasing religious conflict and communalism, with two intolerant sides emerging. Our neighboring countries are also identifying this in various ways. At the same time, groups of people are seen creating chaos in front of newspaper offices. You have been observing politics for a long time. What is your opinion on this?

Badiul Alam Majumdar: I hope, for the sake of all of us, for the future generations, and for the interests of the Bangladesh state, that we all behave responsibly. Those who are creating such situations and provoking unrest, if we all unite, we can resolve this issue. If we are divided, engage in conflict, and fight amongst ourselves, without a clear objective, then the situation may become complicated for us. A fair election could be disrupted. This will depend on all of our collective goodwill.

Views Bangladesh: The foundation of Bangladesh is the Liberation War of 1971, but it seems that some members of the interim government are unable to distinguish between what is related to 1971 and what is a fascist government. How do you see this issue?

Badiul Alam Majumdar: The Liberation War of 1971 is the most glorious chapter in our national history, and no one should have any disagreement on this. Perhaps some individuals may have unclear thoughts on this matter, which could lead to complications. The current interim government has many young people, and some of their statements might cause controversy. However, I believe there is no room for confusion on this matter. If anyone is unable to clearly express their views, I believe the Liberation War of 1971 is deeply embedded in our blood. The sacrifices of our freedom fighters are always in our memory. The goal of the Liberation War was to establish our right to self-determination—equality, human dignity, and social justice. It was to establish a democratic state and a peaceful future. I don't think there is any disagreement on that. There may be some unclear statements, but I am encouraged by one thing: regarding the recent communal situation, everyone is coming forward to address it. Regardless of party or opinion, everyone is speaking in favor of national unity and collectively addressing the situation. There is reason for optimism in this. Our glorious history of the Liberation War, regardless of party, opinion, or race, is something we should all cherish. Though some self-interested groups have tried to tarnish our heritage, when it comes to 1971, we must stand united. There is no alternative to that.

Views Bangladesh: The fascist government's actions that angered the people, the mistakes they made—some of those behaviors seem to be evident in the current government's decisions as well. For example, the case that heated up the situation was not filed properly. In Bangladesh, an individual cannot file a case for treason; it must be filed on behalf of the state, which was not done. We are seeing journalists being indiscriminately indicted in murder cases. As a result, the current government is becoming controversial. We overthrew a fascist government with blood, but do you think the current government's behavior is beginning to resemble that of the fascist government?

Badiul Alam Majumdar: Mistakes have been made, and they will happen. Even the most knowledgeable and wise individuals, if they were part of the interim government, would have faced difficulty handling this complex situation. The situation is very complicated. All institutions have been made dysfunctional. Bangladesh has turned into a paradise of corruption and criminality. Many groups have treated this country as their own property and plundered it. Fixing these issues is no small task. Mistakes have been made, but our chief advisor clearly stated that if the interim government makes a mistake, citizens should point it out. The mistakes that have happened, I believe, can be corrected, and lessons will be learned from these mistakes to ensure they don't happen again. Mistakes will occur, but in the past, the previous government never admitted any mistakes. Whatever they did, they claimed it was right, and they never acknowledged their wrongs. Many of the actions they took were not for the public good, but for personal, party, or group interests. The key difference with this government is that there are no party or personal interests involved—only the public interest. I believe that even if they make mistakes, they will learn from them by admitting them.

Views Bangladesh: The youth who took part in the July uprising—considering their current state, do you think this generation can deliver a happy and prosperous Bangladesh in the future?

Badiul Alam Majumdar: When we blame this young generation, we cannot escape responsibility. We, the older generation, who are like their guardians, failed to show them the right path. We could not utilize them properly; instead, we misused them. I believe that if we act responsibly, we can help shape them into better individuals. Our older generations thought they were just preoccupied with mobile phones, the internet, and Facebook, but they have proven us wrong. The Gen-Z generation, as they are called, actually thinks about the state, about the future. They risked their lives to free the country from autocracy. Just as our freedom fighters fought risking their lives, they too risked their lives.

What we have seen is that their desire to give their lives was stronger than those who tried to kill them. Therefore, they were victorious in this battle of willpower. I am optimistic. However, we must guide them properly, support them, and work shoulder to shoulder with them. We must show them the right path. I am confident that they will build a beautiful Bangladesh. By liberating the country from autocracy, they have opened the door to a new Bangladesh after 53 years. I am sure they will do whatever is necessary to make this a reality. Now, we must fulfill our responsibilities. If we all do our part correctly, we can build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh. I have no doubt about this.

(The end) 

First episode :  Unstable situation to hinder fair election