Muhammad Musa Khan
On August 23, during a dialogue with several political parties, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus stated, “Signs of conspiracies by the defeated forces are already visible, even before a year has passed since the student-people uprising.” Addressing political leaders, he further said, “Despite differences of opinion and rivalry, it is crucial for political parties to make their unity against fascism more visible.” The Chief Advisor’s statement is highly significant. Because, if there is no unity among political parties, the very purpose for which students and the masses took to the streets—and embraced death with a smile—will be in vain. The reason is, in the absence of unity, the defeated autocracy may rise again. The ghosts of autocracy never truly disappear.
Professor Syed Ahsanul Alam an internationally reputed geopolitical economist asked about this situation said “ You don’t need any research to find out that Bangladesh is a divided nation highly discriminatory in terms of religion, economy and strata of social life.
It is worth recalling that in the July mass uprising, the fascist Awami League government was overthrown, and an interim government took charge of the country. One year has passed under this government. But many people complain that the dream of a corruption-free and prosperous Bangladesh—for which they braved bullets—now seems to be fading.
They believe that “divisions among the forces that supported the July uprising are becoming increasingly evident. It is heading toward conflict and confrontation. As a result, the achievements or gains of the July uprising are causing renewed anxiety among the public.” The interim government undertook various reforms aimed at establishing democracy, governing the country, and purifying politics. However, significant disagreements have emerged in that process as well, which was not desirable.
It must be acknowledged that the July mass uprising brought an end to fascist rule. But there must now be a “long-term united struggle” against fascism and a “complete transformation of state-level misgovernance to permanently uproot the fascist state system.” The abolition of the fascist system and the construction of a democratic republic have become essential. For that, building anti-fascist national unity is crucial.
The interim government now appears to be moving toward an election. Chief Advisor and Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has stated that elections may be held in the first half of 2026. Based on that, it can be said that less than a year remains in this government’s tenure. However, various reform proposals are already being drafted. Many believe that implementing these reforms within the available timeframe will be challenging.
There are at least three prominent challenges regarding the reforms. First, creating consensus among political parties. If the commission provides a report, the interim government cannot directly implement it. Therefore, even if reform proposals are in hand, consensus must be reached on which sectors and how those reforms will be executed. Second, there must be consensus between the government and political parties on whether reforms will be extensive or limited in scope. Third, there are differing opinions on whether the interim government will carry out the reforms or whether an elected democratic government will do so after the election.
Meanwhile, there is also division regarding the national election. The main opposition party BNP wants an immediate election. On the other hand, parties like Jamaat and others prefer elections after the reforms. As a result, new political polarization is becoming evident. Right-wing and religion-based political parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizens’ Party (NCP), Islami Andolon, and Gono Odhikar Parishad have united on the issue of national elections under a proportional representation (PR) system. However, BNP and its like-minded parties oppose this method. It can be said that divisions among political parties over the PR system and the reform process are becoming clear. “The PR system cannot truly be called a democratic method.” This method does not align with the direct democratic system currently practiced in our country.
Political analysts believe that the closer the election date comes, the more these divisions will deepen. Differences in opinion are natural in politics, but any side making “non-negotiable” demands could complicate the situation further. A few days ago, in a memorial discussion organized by private university teachers and students in honor of the martyrs of the July movement, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman raised a question virtually: “Is any faction within the interim government deliberately trying to create a hostile or adverse situation in the country?”
While asked to comment on Tarik Zia statement Professor Syed Ahsanul Alam said “ Tarik Zia may be right or may be wrong. But this situation is very normal when power craze is desperate among power mongers. I believe these will be bloodshed among political activist when election date (If any ) come closer.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Dr. Shahdeen Malik believes that “the steps for state reform were taken based on a flawed understanding, and this reform process has clearly revealed divisions among political parties.” We disagree with Dr. Shahdeen Malik’s statement. Because over the past three decades, political governments have institutionalized corruption and land grabbing. They have destroyed the judiciary and fully politicized the system. People could not vote in the last three elections. As a result, we believe that an “election without reforms” could once again hand over Bangladesh to corrupt individuals. Instead of blaming the reforms for causing division, we should rather call for “political parties to unite for the implementation of reforms.”
Our position is clear: “The achievements of the July mass uprising must be preserved.” We must move forward to achieve our goals. For this, the “unity” of the forces that supported the uprising is extremely important. We believe that political parties, considering public expectations, will collectively move forward on the path of democratic transition. The people of this country expect nothing less. Through reforms, the journey of democracy in the country will resume, and gradually democratic institutions will be strengthened. Rights and equal opportunities for all people will be established. Economic, social, political, and cultural emancipation for people of all religions and communities will be ensured.
Yes, we have seen that after various political upheavals, when it is necessary for everyone to unite for national development and progress, instead, divisions, infighting, violence, and revenge often take precedence. In developing countries, the failure to value national unity has repeatedly allowed domestic and foreign conspirators to exploit the situation. As a result, for decades, these countries have suffered setbacks in their political, economic, social, and cultural progress. After achieving a goal, the first duty of the victorious forces should be to establish law and order and strengthen national unity.
That does not mean that those involved in serious crimes—such as enforced disappearances, rape, looting, crimes against humanity, and money laundering—will all be forgiven. On the contrary, they must be brought to justice, and fair justice must be ensured. Even after more than half a century of independence, many still claim they have not enjoyed the benefits of freedom. The country seems deeply divided. Spreading hatred has become an agenda for a particular class of people.
In the past, we have seen unity in our society. Unity grew through movements. Movements were launched in pursuit of freedom. In 1952, 1969, and 1971, our unity was unforgettable. National unity was also established during the movement against Ershad. The opposition was brutal; the repression was severe. But the unity did not break—rather, its strength became even more apparent.
However, in the current phase, we see some differences. In some cases, even mudslinging is evident. Conspirators are still active in this country. There are domestic and foreign conspiracies to sabotage the July revolution. They have prepared budgets worth billions of taka. Therefore, after the reforms, through a fair election, we must all—abandoning personal interests—build a broad-based national anti-fascist unity to transform this country into a corruption-free, extortion-free, terror-free, and prosperous democratic Bangladesh.
Author: Muhammad Musa Khan
Columnist, Political Analyst, and Social Activist