Roadmap for reforms and election need to be announced soon
Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal's (Basad) general secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz speaks to Prothom Alo's Monzurul Islam on post-uprising politics, various steps of the interim government, reforms and other issues.
You have long been demanding fair elections and resignation of the government. Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic regime has finally been toppled through the student-mass uprising in 2024. What is the political significance of this uprising?
As like any success, a political movement’s victory entails a long struggle. The demonstration was against corruption and misrule, and the people also had pent up anger over the destruction of the electoral system. People’s voting rights were snatched through the three last general elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024.
The opposition political parties had long struggled against that. The fall of the fascist regime came in continuation of the successful uprising of the students, the masses and the workers in 2024. It is not right to think that the mass-uprising is the culmination of a movement of just 36 days.
Two aspects of people’s desire have come to the fore in this uprising. One is anti-discrimination and another is uprooting the psychological foundation of fascism in political, economic, social, cultural and administrative arenas. This uprising has a class question but its political significance is very important and far reaching.
An interim government has been formed after the uprising. The current government has passed two months in office. How do you assess its activities?
The interim government does not seem to have succeeded in focusing on dealing with abnormal and anarchic situations as much as was needed. Although two months is not enough time, its failure to control the prices of essentials, market management and the plight of the poor working class is evident. Lack of coordination in work, and failure to set priorities is evident.
Reform has become a buzz word nowadays. The interim government is also speaking about reforms. Several commissions have already been formed. What are your expectations from these commissions?
People expect these commissions would pave the way for some reforms, not eradicate all the problems. We think the commissions will have dialogues with political parties and identify the issues, show the solutions and will make some solutions themselves.
However, the commissions will have to remain alert so that no new debate emerges on the already settled issues. The whole matter is still unclear since the commissions are yet to have any dialogue with political parties on the outline, purview and timeline of the reforms.
What is your stance on constitutional reforms? Do you demand an amendment of the constitution of 1972 or do you want a new constitution?
Those who ruled the country in the last 52 years either denied, bypassed or distorted the constitution achieved through the liberation war and turned it into a makeshift document for sake of their power. For the time being it seems it will be enough to that annulment of undemocratic amendments, recognition of different nationalities, establishment of equal rights of women in inheritance of property, legal protection of fundamental rights, balance of powers of the president and prime minister and repeal Article 70. This government should do no more than minimal reforms in the administration and judiciary and hold a fair and free election.
Some parties sought election first and reforms later. We want to know your opinion on political reforms.
Reforms only on papers are not enough for a fair election; rather a change in overall political culture is needed. It is not the matter of when the reforms will be carried out but there should be efforts to bring out a transparent and collective opinion. For that political parties should be consulted and a consensus formed. There is no point in wasting time over whether the reforms should be carried out before or after the elections.
Reform and election does not contradict but the discussion is being going on in such a direction as if they contradict. Both have to be done in a parallel way. The main duty of this government is to hand over the power to elected representatives of people quickly by carrying out reforms needed to hold a fair election.
There is consensus among all the parties that elections cannot be held under a partisan government. The election must be freed from money, muscle power and communalism. Reforms, such as the introduction of options for ‘No votes’ and Proportional Representation system, are needed as much as necessary for the functioning of a democratic system.
How much time do you want to give the government for reforms? How many days do you think would be reasonable for holding the election?
I don't want to fix any time limit for the interim government. But it is not right to give them indefinite time. The government needs to announce a roadmap on reforms and elections soon. If not, there will be room for doubt in the public mind.