The government should investigate whether there are any attempts to block roads, harass the common people, create severe traffic jams or make public life miserable along with some reasonable demands. If caution is not exercised, domestic and foreign conspiracies can take the country to the brink of destruction. Suddenly, such demands are being raised that are forcing normal life to stop. The current demand to convert the government Titumir College into a university seems equally unreasonable in general. It is necessary to find out whether there are any other indications in the incidents of unsuccessful students entering the secretariat demanding auto passes a few days ago and creating a ruckus. You can ask whatever you want from a fairly soft or flexible government, and say whatever you want. The people have expected such a people-friendly government in the 54 years of independence. I hope that the platform that has been created through the interim government to fulfill the aspirations of the people will show the way for the future. However, if those who are trying to climb on our shoulders and who are trying to pinch our hearts by mistaking politeness for weakness are not stopped, the path forward to fulfill the nation’s national dream will not be smooth. In the politics of demands that are going on all around, do the agitators even understand how much public interest is there and how much public suffering is there?
The demands that the government formed under the leadership of the elected political party would not have had the time to make are now being made openly. However, is the government being embarrassed by raising demands for the conversion of colleges into universities, or the merger of contractual employees, or other such demands, which have no acceptability or rationality for their practical implementation, taking advantage of this flexibility? The state also has some limitations. Moreover, the smell of conspiracy is present in the demands of the Ansars, and the incitement of the government-backed garment owners in the name of the workers’ demands – these news have come to the media in force. Evidence of conspiracy is also being found. The most important thing is whether the government is going to fall into the trap of listening to such demands that they will be forced to refrain from their desired reforms. It is noticeable that the political parties, while they expressed unwavering support for the interim government at the beginning of its journey, have changed their statements in the first hundred days of the government. Doubts have also been raised in some places.
It is admitted that the language of the interim government is soft. When it comes to the issue of public interest, their tone is in favor of fulfilling the demands. They are not crowding around the oppression either. They are explaining with words, not with sticks and bullets, and are sending them home with assurances. The chaos that arose between the police and the civil administration after the government was forced to flee on August 5 under the pressure of the student movement against discrimination is now almost gone. Good order has returned among the police. The reshuffle in the administration has increased the dynamics of work. However, the demands and intolerance of the people have not disappeared. Calling for a movement in words, occupying the highway for some demand or taking a stand in front of the secretariat demanding our government – such images are evoking new experiences in Bangladesh. At one time, even the word “to” could not be uttered. The language and stance of the movement were limited to whatever permission was given. When the long-standing anger of the people has become unbridled, freedom of speech has been given or criticism has been given a language, then it is not respecting the limits of justice and rights but is repeatedly violating the limits. Which is wrong.
The interim government’s chief advisor has called for everyone to voice their demands and suggestions through the designated channels and authorities, but some are not heeding them. Every citizen has the right to make demands, ask the government for something, or express their feelings. This is constitutionally part of their freedom. But if the fundamental freedoms of many are disrupted and rights are violated in the name of exercising someone’s freedom, it is wrong. If the students of Titumir College think it is reasonable and deserved, they can make demands for the university, but suddenly occupying the road with a stick, killing and bleeding train passengers, and stopping ambulances carrying the sick – these are illegal. The government should formulate clear policies for street protests and activities that disrupt public life. If any protest is to be held on the streets, it must be on a holiday – according to that rule. Moreover, there is no advance word, no discussion among themselves or announcement of raising demands, such a mob cannot continue to occupy the road and sit down. Such an anarchic environment is never acceptable. If demands that are not feasible are given due consideration, uncontrollable chaos will increase day by day. In this way, the reforms that the interim government has shown the people with the mandate of opinion, the reforms that it has shown the people, will fall into the long-term millstone.
The government needs to have a roadmap of which demands are being incited by the opposition, which are unfeasible, or which sectors the government will work on. In order to look better, the current government should not put future governments in such danger that their implementation and maintenance will become impossible for them. Just as softness is a quality of a good ruler, strictness is also a characteristic of good governance. Currently, ultimatums are being issued to fulfill such demands that have not been raised during the rule of any previous government in Bangladesh, good or bad. The students of Titumir College should have thought that if the government Titumir College has to be declared a university, then at least 20 or more colleges will have to be converted into universities before that, considering the overall issues (campus, building, students, location, size). Now is not the right time to protest on the permanentization of contractual employees, grade changes, cadre-non-cadre conflicts in the same service, inter-cadre conflicts, doctor-paramedic conflicts. This is not the best time to embarrass the government even by protesting for salary increases. In the interest of the nation, the government should be given the opportunity to reform in more important areas. The government of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus will not come to Bangladesh again and again. Therefore, it is necessary to set the course for what Bangladesh will be like in the future.
Whether the Awami League is rehabilitated in Bangladeshi politics or not, whoever comes to power in the next election, whether BNP or Jamaat-e-Islami, or whether Bangladesh meets with some unexpected fate, the longer the term of the interim government increases, the more the political parties will become hostile and will push for holding elections. It is not easy to stay away from power in power-centric politics. Therefore, some important reforms must be made in the few days, months or years that the interim government is in power so that no other government can turn into fascism in the future. The bureaucrats and police do not become party slaves and bandits. The country does not become a golden land for looters. The lives of the common people should not be affected by looting and syndicates. That is why for now, no movement or demand can be allowed to take root that creates an uncomfortable situation for the government. For this, coordinators Sarjis Alam, Hasanat, etc. from among the representatives of the students and the public must play a strong role. The students and the masses of the anti-discrimination student movement can play a role in preventing the government from falling into the trap of instability and instability that the third party is trying to trap. The government must also protect the government from occupying the roads, besieging the secretariat, and putting the common people in danger every day by making laws. Sometimes, even strictness is good overall.
