Speakers at a discussion on Tuesday expressed their desire to see humanity and human rights upheld in the new Bangladesh, where no one would fall victim to enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings.

“We want a Bangladesh where there will be no fear or intimidation, people can prosper, and every voice will be heard,” said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Benar News, a US-financed online news service, arranged the forum discussion titled “What do we want in the new Bangladesh?” at the National Museum in the capital.

Shafiqul Islam expressed his vision of a Bangladesh free from pollution, where peace and beauty would prevail. "I want to take pride in my country," he said.

Noted writer Prof Salimullah Khan stressed the need for promoting equity, justice and democracy in the new Bangladesh. “We want an equity-based democratic Bangladesh,” he said.

Describing the 2024 mass uprising as the third independence, he said it was betrayed with independence first in 1972 and then in 2009 or 2014.

He said three words ‘equality,’ ‘dignity’ and ‘justice’ were picked in the slogan of the freedom struggle of Bangladesh but these words should have been written in the 1972 Constitution.

“We don’t want any religion or caste to be repressed in new Bangladesh,” said Prof Khan, adding that Bangladesh should be a country of all people irrespective of their religion, caste and race.

“There will be no more incidents of enforced disappearance, killing, cross-fire here,” he said.

Dr Khan said the country should be run on the basis of justice even if 100 percent of its population is from a single religion.

Coordinator of ‘Mayer Dak’ (Anti-enforced disappearance platform) Sanjida Islam Tuli said she wants to see a standard operating system (SOP) to be defined for every law enforcement agency – police, Rab and DGFI – to determine how they could go in name of providing security to the citizens in new Bangladesh.

“In a bid to stop illegal practices, I think, it is very essential to define the SOP,” she said, adding that some 7,000 people lost lives in the incidents of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing and the recent mass uprising during the AL regimes.

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Tuli, a sister of an enforced disappearance victim, said Awami evil force will have to be brought to justice for every killing and every incident of enforced disappearance first and then a discussion can be held over if AL should be allowed to politics or not. “Now our first and prime responsibility is to ensure justice first,” she said.

Artist Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, who acted in a television series for children named ‘Sisimpur’ said she wants a Bangladesh where people can live with joy like ‘Sisimpur’.

Dr Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the BNP acting chairman, said they want a Bangladesh where the people irrespective of religions and classes can lead a dignified life, feeling that they are owners of an independent country.

“We want a government system where human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression are upheld. And all these things will be possible when we get an elected government system through election amid reflection of public expectation,” he said.

Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said fascist Awami League should be tried first for its misrules, including killings, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, before any discussion of its rehabilitation in the country’s politics.

He criticised the political parties that are against banning AL in politics. “You, the existing political parties, started the politics of compromise. You are going to rehabilitate Awami League,” he said, pointing at the remarks of Dr Mahdi Amin.

Hasnat said the existing political parties will go to settle Awami League through the backdoor channel and be part of their business through the backdoor channel.

“With due respect to you, we would like to say we are seeing with doubt the statements that you are making by doing the politics of compromise –rehabilitation of Awami League,” he said.

He said the time has not come yet for the discussion of whether Awami League would come back to the politics of the country. Rather those, who are making such statements until the trial of Awami League ensured, never bore the spirit of the July mass uprising that occurred against the fascist regime.

“The trial of AL is now pertinent. But it is not pertinent whether AL would join the next election or not. The trial of AL will have to be ensured first, no matter how many years it takes,” he said.

In response to a question, Shafiqul Alam said the trial of Awami League men for every killing will be held soon and no one will be spared.

Mobassher Hasan, a victim of the enforced disappearance, said they want all to respect human rights in the new Bangladesh.

“I want a humane Bangladesh where people would be able to live with dignity. Humility and human rights would be upheld and no one would be victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” he said.

Nazma Akter Nasima, the mother of martyr Golam Nafiz; and Jahangir Hossain, father of martyr Jahid Hossain; also spoke on the occasion.