Judiciary to police, institutions have to be rebuilt, says student leader now in Bangladesh interim govt

In an interview to The Indian Express, 26-year-old Nahid Islam, who spearheaded the quota reforms movement that led to Hasina’s ouster, said, “We haven’t been able to celebrate the victory and the downfall of the Hasina government. It’s a big responsibility for us now.”

Islam, who studied sociology at Dhaka University, is one of the most articulate student leaders. Following Hasina’s departure, it was Islam who announced that Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus would head the interim government.

He said during Hasina’s rule, institutional structures in the country had been “destroyed” due to “injustice and loot”.

“So, we have to reform them, and have to rebuild trust in those institutions… This is a difficult responsibility for us, and we are making efforts towards this end,” he said.

Whether he ever thought that the student protests would bring down the Hasina government, he said, “No, we did not think about this… We did not start our agitation with the objective of bringing down the government. But people were aggrieved and angry, three elections had been rigged. And the situation was there in the country, the economic challenge, lack of jobs, and this movement gave a voice to the people.”

“When we started our agitation with the quota movement, we were very determined, and we saw there was anger against the government,” he said.

In 2018, the quotas, he said, were stopped after an agitation though students had asked for reforms then.

“But the government did not carry out the reforms, and through the High Court, they brought it back. So, the students did not have trust in the government, there were grievances from the common people. All this combined, came to a point (where the government couldn’t survive).”

“And we were just respectfully responding to what the people wanted… and after so many students were killed, martyred and injured, then there was no scope for the government to continue in power. Ultimately, it moved towards the fall of the government,” Islam said.

On Mujib’s statues being demolished on August 5, he said the statues of Bangabandhu had become “symbols of fascism” due to the “personality cult” built around it by the Awami League government to “cover up their misdeeds”.

“At a pivotal moment in the history of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib had led the countrymen as the father of the nation. But Awami League was unable to keep him in that place of respect. Rather, his image was used, and his name was abused to do all bad things. Sheikh Mujib’s statue became a symbol of fascism,” he said.

“Even Sheikh Mujib’s legacy is contested as we have seen after 1971, with the formation of BAKSAL (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League), and then we have seen oppression at that time,” he said, referring to Mujib’s initiative of forming a one-party system in 1974-75.

Referring to the Hasina government, he said, “And in a forced manner, a cult was created around Sheikh Mujib to cover up all the misdeeds of the Awami League government. People have actually broken the fascist cult, it was inevitable, the responsibility lies with the Awami League (for the demolition of the statues)”.

On the politicisation of national institutions during the Awami League rule, he said, “The national institutions were corrupted, and they need holistic reforms… So, in all the sectors, those who are neutral and those who love their country, they are making demands, giving suggestions, we are looking at them.”

“Police are also suggesting some reforms, and we are also sitting with them to reform them… Similarly, in civilian bureaucracy, we are seeing the challenge. And, in the judiciary also, judges have been changed. We are preparing holistic plans and will be working on it,” he said.

On Yunus as head of the interim government, he said, “After the revolution on August 5, when there was a situation where a government had to be made, we thought that for the task of nation-building, we needed a guardian to accomplish it. So Prof Yunus was the choice. He was popular, had a clean image, and as you know, he was targeted by the previous regime, and had spoken earlier in favour of the common people.”

“He had an international acceptance, he was also nationally recognised, and because we were going through an economic challenge, we needed an economist like him. He has world-wide recognition in this field, and also from the geopolitical perspective as well, he could play a role. So from all angles, Dr Yunus was the option,” he said, adding that they “didn’t have an option B, he was our first choice, and when he agreed, it was great.”

Prof Yunus, he said, “stood with us during the protests”, and “our criteria was clear that we needed someone who is neutral, has professionalism, and whose leadership can unite all.”

“We have complete faith in him and that confidence has increased after seeing him. We feel our aspirations can be achieved.”

On engaging with India after Yunus spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Islam said, “We have had a historical relationship with India… We have some ups and downs as well. India’s ties with Bangladesh is between the two countries, between the peoples of the two countries.”

“But we have felt several times that India had ties with a particular political party, and not with the country or the people of Bangladesh – it maintained ties with the Awami League, and not with the people of Bangladesh. This is problematic for Bangladesh as well as for India,” he said.

“So India should keep this in its understanding, that it should develop and sustain its relationship with the people and the country, and not a particular party. Political parties will come and go, governments will come and go, but they should keep the ties with the country and its people,” he said.

He said “the relationship with Awami League and its support for the regime is an open secret, so there is a sense of anger among people here.”

Flagging the “border killings” and the “water-sharing” as two important issues between the two countries – these were raised by foreign affairs advisor Touhid Hossain during his meeting with Indian envoy Pranay Verma – Islam said, “Hopefully, we will resolve these issues soon and have improved ties with India.”

Asked about a future political party of the students, he said, “We are not thinking of politics right now, we are working on nation-building. Later, if and when the situation arises, we will discuss with the people and decide.”