BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said the tragic incident of October 28 in 2006, the so-called 'Logi-Boitha' (Oar and Log) movement, marked the first manifestation of Sheikh Hasina’s fascism, which later expanded further.
He made the remarks at a discussion titled “Logi-Boithar Lashtranter Theke Awami Fascismer Utthan: 28 October Prekkhit” (Trading in carcasses through the Oar and Log Movement was the advent of AL fascism), organised by the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) on Tuesday.
Rizvi said the incident occurred when then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was on her way to the President to submit the cabinet’s recommendation for resignation.
Nearly a week before the formation of the caretaker government, the administration had already stopped following government directives. Law enforcement agencies were unwilling to act, fearing uncertainty about who would come to power next and whether their jobs would become insecure, he said.
“Sheikh Hasina took the opportunity of that situation,” said Rizvi.
“Under the leadership of the Awami League,” a wave of bloody violence swept across the country. Former Chhatra Dal president Shahabuddin Lalto was brutally beaten on the street by 14-party activists — they crushed his head with bricks and threw him into a pond. This kind of violence, where central student leaders were physically attacked, was initiated by Sheikh Hasina and her student wing the Chhatra League.”
“On the 28th, when reports of bloodshed started coming from Jamaat leaders and it became clear that police or RAB were not responding, the then premier instructed the BDR to move. But by that time, many violent incidents had already occurred,” Rizvi added.
He said, “Fascists always construct their own narrative. Hitler used the idea of the ‘State,’ and Sheikh Hasina used the ‘Spirit of Liberation.’ This spirit has been distorted to such an extent that ordinary people now question whether fascism is being disguised under its name.”
Sharing his personal experience, he added, “During Awami League rule, I couldn’t walk through the university campus without fear — afraid of being noticed by any Chhatra League activist. But after August 5, that fear disappeared.”
Calling for the restoration of a democratic environment at Dhaka University, Rizvi urged that the earlier fascist era must not be repeated.
“Students involved in movements — whether from Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, left-wing or right-wing groups — must engage in mutual discussion and debate while uniting around a simple goal to save the institutions. Whatever the fascists have done, it is now the duty of the new generation to undo it”.