Mirza Fakhrul's claim is another hint of 1/11: Adviser Nahid

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's demand for a neutral government is an indication of the formation of another 1/11 government, said Nahid Islam, a student leader of the July Movement and adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

He made this comment in a post on his verified Facebook ID on Thursday (January 23) afternoon.

Incidentally, in response to a question from BBC Bangla about the tenure of the interim government, Mirza Fakhrul said that if the government maintains complete neutrality, then they will remain until the elections are conducted. Otherwise, a neutral government will be needed.

In the wake of this statement by the BNP Secretary General, this time Adviser Nahid Islam made a counter-comment.

Nahid Islam wrote, 'BNP Secretary General's demand for a neutral government is basically an indication of the formation of another 1/11 government. Awami fascism emerged from the 1/11 settlement. According to the BNP Secretary General, there are signs of another 1/11 government ahead, parliamentary majority and continuation of the knee-jerk foreign policy, and the disappearances, murders and July massacres not being prosecuted.

The plan to eliminate the students and the leadership of the coup began on August 5. On August 5, when the students and the masses were fighting on the streets, and the police firing continued, many of our compromise-seeking national leaders were busy planning to form a new government in the cantonment excluding the people (many also spoke about the students there).

We have been saying since August 3 that we will not accept any kind of martial law or state of emergency. Although we were repeatedly asked to go to the cantonment, we refused to go. Finally, through discussions and bargaining at Bangabhaban, it was decided to form an interim government with Dr. Yunus as its head.

We 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. Considering that the national government would last for a long time, the BNP did not agree to a national government.

But the need for a national government was greatest in the country after the coup. Yet the BNP is talking about a national government after the upcoming elections.

The students are the only factor in this government and the existing reality, which completely distinguishes the current government from the 1/11 government. Although the BNP discussed minus two a few days ago, it is now proposing another 1/11 government in the name of a neutral government to smooth the way to power.

Such a plan will go against democracy and national interests and the students and the public will not accept it in any way. And I think it is a conspiracy against the BNP as well.

And even though this government is not a national government, all sides of the movement have a stake in the government and all sides are enjoying various benefits. Before the formation of the government, the Attorney General and the previous IG of Police were appointed on August 6, who were basically BNP people. In this way, there are people who are pro-BNP at various levels from top to bottom in the government. This reality must also be kept in mind when talking about the impartiality of the elections.

BNP has taken a stand against the change of the president, reforms, the new constitution, the July declaration on all issues. However, none of these were demands of the students' party. But the students have repeatedly backed down from their position to maintain the stability of the country, the larger interests, and national unity.

But this does not mean that if there is a plan that is anti-democratic and against the desire for a coup, we will make a single concession.

Unity has been possible between the main parties in India on the Awami League. However, in Bangladesh, we have not been able to unite on the Awami League despite so many killings and crimes. Alas, will we build a state with this 'national unity'!

It is easy to weaken Bangladesh. Because Bangladesh can be easily divided. The big people of this country are ready to be sold at a low price.

I do not think the entire BNP takes this stand. Rather, a large section of BNP workers and supporters want the realization of the desire for a coup. I call on the patriotic and dedicated leadership of BNP to choose the path of greater unity and solidarity with the students and the masses instead of going against the uprising of the students and the masses.