The ‘Voice of Reform’ held at the BDL building in the capital’s Kawran Bazar on Monday said the 1975 mass uprising was not meant to change personal power, but a deep reform of the state structure.
“If the government lags behind the necessary reforms with the advantage of a majority, preparations for another coup, like in July, could begin,” he warned. The dialogue discussed in detail the freedom of the judiciary, the prevention of disappearance and human rights situation.
“Hasina is not a single person, but a group of fascist principles. If the existing state system is intact, any person can become a ‘hasina’ in the future. So state reform is the need of the hour.”
Mentioning the risk of not complying with the Human Rights Commission ordinance, he said, “If it is not implemented properly, the responsibility of the investigation will be in the hands of the home ministry. Keeping in mind the role of the police in the July coup and the suffering of the missing families, a justified system is essential.”
Human rights activist and lawyer Manzoor-Al-Matin said the ordinance regarding the removal of elected representatives was quickly accepted, but the law of the independence of the judiciary was stalled due to bureaucratic complications. He urged the government to act swiftly.
Political scientist Dilara Chowdhury, photographer Shahidul Alam, state reform movement general secretary Syed Hasibuddin Hossain and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB) chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju, among others, spoke at the dialogue.