New extortion group reemerging: Anu Muhammad

Former professor at the economics department of Jahangirnagar University, Anu Muhammad, has said that extortion has begun in many areas after the fall of Awami League government amid the student-people's uprising.

He noted that a new group of extortionists has emerged and the harassment by market leaseholders has not stopped. He called the government to take drastic action against this.

Professor Anu Muhammad made the remarks at a press conference at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday morning.

The Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee organised the press conference titled 'how far the proposal for the immediate actions by the interim government has been implemented in 100 days'.

On 5 October, The Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee placed a 13-point demand. Anu Muhammad, one of the members of the committee, reviewed the progress of the implementation of the demands.

Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee joint convener Mahaa Mirza read out 13 proposals one after another at the press conference. Anu Muhammad reviewed the progress of those proposals.  

Anu Muhammad also announced that, under the banner of the Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee, a programme titled 'unity in diversity' would be held on Saturday at 3:00pm at the Central Shaheed Minar to bring together people from all social, religious, gender, ethnic, professional, and cultural backgrounds in Bangladesh.

Anu Muhammad said, "We don't understand why the full list of martyrs, missing, and injured people has not yet been published. Why the responsibility for the families of the martyrs and injured has been taken. Although trials have started at the International Criminal Tribunal, there are doubts about their specific and substantial outcomes. False and harassing cases from the past 15 years have not been withdrawn. The constitutional reform commission needs to present a framework to the nation soon."

"There are still many tasks regarding the judicial independence to be done. Meanwhile, questions have already been raised about the appointments of judges, and these should be seriously addressed by the government," he added.

Anu Muhammad also mentioned that this year’s Durga Puja was mostly peaceful, but the identification of those involved in political violence had not been carried out.

As a result, the Modi government in India is spreading misinformation purposefully, he said adding the government needs to publish accurate information and take action against those involved in such incidents so that any other country or the ousted governments do not get scope to take advantage of it.

He criticised the lack of effective steps to control rising prices, stating that the prices of essential commodities like oil, eggs, and onions are controlled by a few companies through artificially generated shortages.

Anu Muhammad also called for the release of reports from two investigation committees on banking scandals, money laundering, and stock market manipulation from the previous government’s tenure.

Anu Muhammad expressed hope that the government would fulfill its promise to not renew the rental and quick rental contracts.

He said, "The government of Sheikh Hasina has undertaken many deadly projects and signed dangerous and risky agreements under the 2010 Immunity Act, which has now been repealed. I hope the process to cancel these projects will proceed appropriately."

Criticising the government steps that destroyed the education sector over the  last 15 years, he said, "We have to do a lot of work in the long term to come out of this situation. But this government can start this."

Anu Muhammad recommends that the interim government can sign the United Nations International Water Convention to establish and protect the country’s water rights.

Moreover, he mentioned that certain agreements with India, particularly on transit signed by Sheikh Hasina just before the fall of the government, have not yet been made public.

In response to a question from a newsman, Anu Muhammad said, "The country's electoral system collapsed. In fact elections were not properly organised since 2008. The Hasina-led government has been unelected since 2014. The government needs to repair and reform the electoral process to create a credible and acceptable election framework as soon as possible."

Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee joint conveners professor Harun-or-Rashid, Abdullah Kafi Ratan, member professor Mosahida Sultana Ritu also spoke at the press conference.

Committee joint convener Seema Datta, filmmaker Akram Khan, and Michael Chakma, who returned after being abducted, among others, attended the event.