United News of Bangladesh

National Citizens Party (NCP)’s Southern Region Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday warned against branding his party’s firm anti-Awami League stance as a “breach of decorum.” In a post from his verified Facebook account, Hasnat wrote: “The day our anti-Awami League position and rejection of compromise politics began to be called ‘indecorous’ was the day Awami League processions started growing bigger.” Targeting those he accused of indulging in compromise politics, he said, “I’m warning those who are compromising—make up your mind about the Awami League very soon. Otherwise, you will continue with your compromise politics, and I will respond with indecorous behaviour.” BNP’s Salahuddin calls for preservation of Pahela Baishakh as national cultural heritage He added: “You won’t be able to handle it if I start breaching decorum. Be careful.” His statement came just hours after a video of an Awami League protest march went viral on Facebook. According to several posts by AL supporters, the march took place in Dhaka’s Badda area, reportedly led by a former Chhatra League leader. Hasnat, however, did not clarify whom he was directly referring to in his comments or who he considers to be engaged in compromise politics.

Two days after NCP’s chief organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah made a bombshell Facebook post about a meeting at the Cantonment, its chief organiser (North) Sarjis Alam downplayed the issue, saying he felt no pressure regarding the ‘Refined Awami League’. “Although the Army chief’s language was more straightforward compared to previous occasions, I did not feel that he was 'pressuring the Refined Awami League.' Rather, he spoke with great confidence and explained if the ‘Refined Awami’ League doesn’t not participate, the long-term political instability and problems in the country would likely intensify,” he wrote. He does not think the way these issues were shared on Facebook was appropriate and in the long run, this could create trust issues with any stakeholder in future important discussions, he said in a Facebook post with ‘few corrections, additions and deletions from his perspective’ regarding the meeting with the Army chief’. Sarjis Alam said he does not see the Army chief's statement as a direct 'proposal' but rather as a 'direct expression of opinion.'  There is a difference between 'expressing an opinion' and 'making a proposal,' he wrote in the post. He said he disagrees with some parts of Hasnat's remarks. No compromise on question of Awami League: Hasnat There were discussions on topics like "refined Awami League, Saber Hossain, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Sohel Taj," which came in Hasnat's points, he said. He acknowledged that they discussed whether the Awami League would return, what would happen if they were or weren't part of the elections, when they might return, or whether they would return at all and how these equations could affect the country’s stability or instability. “However, the tone in which Hasnat presented in the Facebook post makes me think that the conversation wasn’t as extreme as he portrayed. It was definitely more straightforward and confident than on other days, but it wasn’t overly extreme. The Army Chief’s opinion on the necessity of the refined Awami League’s participation for the country's stability was clearly stated.” He also explained that they were not invited to the Army headquarters that day. When necessary, they communicated with the Army Chief’s Military Adviser via messages, where they exchanged some questions and answers. “As a human being, every individual or group interprets opinions in their own way. On that day, Hasnat observed and received the Army chief's statement from his perspective and shared it on the Facebook. I have some disagreement with his take on it.” Hasnat also mentioned another part of the conversation: “At one point, I said, ‘the party that has not apologised yet, has not admitted its crimes, how can you forgive them?’ The other party angrily replied, ‘You people know nothing. You lack wisdom and experience. We’ve been in this service for at least forty years, longer than your age.’” “The narrative about "Hasnat vs. Waker" is not something I expect. Hasnat’s position is different, and so is the Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman's. It is never appropriate to position the Bangladesh Army against other political parties or the people. Moreover, the mention of the Army chief's resignation in some places is not our stance." “In addition to all of this, I would like to express my personal opinion. I could be wrong, but I feel that this is the right view at the moment. During the interim government period, someone from the Bangladesh Army maintains contact with other political parties regarding the country’s overall situation. They maintain their privacy. Even though we might have some direct disagreements with the topics discussed with the Army chief, we could have discussed them in detail in our party forums, made decisions, and implemented programs accordingly.” Midnight bombshell from Hasnat sparks renewed calls to ban Awami League “Alternatively, through dialogue with other political parties, we could have taken a united stand and taken to the streets against any version of the Awami League, just as we are doing now. Or, if other political parties didn't agree with us, we could have taken to the streets alone, representing only our party’s demands. Even today, if anyone points a gun at Hasnat, we are committed to standing in front of him. But when I feel there’s a need to correct a fellow comrade’s perspective, I will do so. It was this conscience that led us to the front row when a few individuals stood against the quota system on June 6 at the Shaheed Minar. He wrote that their movement will continue against the entry of any version of the Awami League, responsible for the July genocide, the BDR killings and the killings at Shapla Chattar.  

In a bombshell Facebook post late on Thursday night that instantly went viral, Hasnat Abdullah, one of the key leaders of the uprising that overthrew Sheikh Hasina and now the chief organiser (South) of the newly-formed National Citizens Party (NCP), alleged that under the stewardship of India, a plot is being hatched to rehabilitate the Awami League. In the post, Hasnat divulged details of a key meeting held at the Cantonment on March 11, between himself and two others from NCP with presumably military leadership, where a proposal was put forward to them to bring back the AL to mainstream politics. He wrote: "On 11 March, at 2:30pm, this plan was presented to me and two others at the Cantonment. It was proposed that in exchange for negotiated seat sharing (at the next election), we should accept this offer. We were told that the same proposal was put forward to multiple political parties  — and, subject to certain conditions, they had agreed to the rehabilitation of the Awami League. It was suggested that having multiple opposition parties alongside a weak Awami League would be better than just one opposition party. As a result, over the past two days, you will notice that many politicians in the media have been speaking in favour of the Awami League." He said the move was being orchestrated by India, and the plan was to have ex-MP Saber Hossain Chowdhury, ex-speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and ex-mayor of Dhaka South Fazle Noor Taposh as the faces of what would amount to a ‘Refined Awami League’. Hasnat continued, "We were further told that from April-May onwards, this 'Refined Awami League,' would start admitting to the crimes of the Sheikh family, reject Hasina, and promise to reestablish the Awami League of Bangabandhu in front of the public." Confidence in elections hinges on reforming current administration: Hasnat Abdullah Hasnat said they immediately rejected the proposal and informed their interlocutors that instead of rehabilitating the Awami League, they should be working towards bringing them to justice. "In response, we were told that if we object to the return of the Awami League, we would be responsible for the crisis it creates in the country, and that  'Awami League must come back,'" he continued. Hasnat further wrote, "At one stage of the discussion, I asked, 'How can you forgive a party that has not yet apologised or confessed to its crimes?' Angrily, the other side responded, 'You people know nothing. You lack wisdom and experience. We have been in this service for at least forty years, longer than you’ve been alive. Moreover, without the Awami League, there can be no 'inclusive' election.'" Hasnat said they didn’t compromise, instead telling the other party "There can be no inclusivity with the Awami League. If the Awami League is to return, it will be over our dead bodies. If an attempt is made to bring back the Awami League, you will be responsible for the crisis that will arise." The meeting then wrapped up with the issue left unresolved. Hasnat went on to write that during the July-August movement last year, they also received various proposals but instead of listening to any of them, they put their faith in the people, and with their support, brought about the downfall of Awami League. He said resisting any pressure from the Cantonment, they would like to do so again today, on the question of banning Awami League, on which he said there could be no compromise. "Today, if I again have your support, if I find you by my side on the streets, we will once again be able to reject this Indian conspiracy of rehabilitating the Awami League," he wrote. Hasnat’s post sparked an immediate reaction, as a group of Dhaka University students held  held a procession on the campus in the small hours of Friday, demanding the ban of Awami League. They also announced to reconvene in front of the Raju Sculpture on Friday afternoon to press home their demand. Hasnat reiterates strong stance against media biased towards fascism Meanwhile Jamaat e Islami chief Dr ShafIqur Rahman, in an early morning post on Friday on his verified Facebook page, seemed to add his voice to Hasnat’s in this regard for the first time, with a statement titled “The public will not accept the rehabilitation of the Awami League.” Without calling directly for the Awami League to be banned, he emphasised bringing them to justice as the number one priority in front of the nation right now. He urged all sides to remain united in this goal.

Anti-discrimination Student Movement and Jatiya Nagarik Committee will conduct 5-day campaign from January 6 to 11 to raise people’s awareness  about ‘Proclamation of July Revolution’. They announced the programme at a press conference in the capital’s Rupayan tower on Saturday. Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Coordinating Council of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said they think the Proclamation of July Revolution will be a significant moment in the national the life. Army operation uncovers two UPDF camps in Rangamati: ISPR "We will conduct campaign in every district from 6th to 11th January. During this time, we will distribute leaflets on the 'Proclamation of July Revolution', hold rallies, and communicate with mass people," said Hasnat. “People from all classes and professions have participated in the July uprising under the leadership of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. We want to bring forward the voices of the most marginalised people.

Representatives from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Saturday discussed various issues with the BNP, including the removal of the President. After the meeting, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Convener Hasnat Abdullah briefed reporters about the outcome, but there was no statement from the BNP. The seven-member delegation of student leaders arrived at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office around 5:15 PM and had a closed-door meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, and Joint Secretary General Shaheeduddin Chowdhury. Hasnat Abdullah said they mainly discussed three issues—the proclamation of the Second Republic, the removal of the President, and consolidating national unity. "As you know, we earlier called for national unity, urging all democratic political parties to come together to bring down the fascist Sheikh Hasina. This was a preliminary step," he said. "Currently, we face obstacles in fully eliminating fascism, particularly Chuppu (President Mohammad Shahabuddin). He should be removed. For the past two days, we have been in talks over these issues with prominent political parties in our country that participated in the mass uprising. We’ve discussed these matters with the BNP," Hasnat said. Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah demands removal of President In the meeting, he said, they discussed how to declare the Proclamation of the Second Republic, how to quickly remove the President based on political consensus, and how to avoid any kind of crisis. "We also talked about how to strengthen national unity." Besides the BNP, he mentioned they also spoke with Jamaat and Islami Andolon about it, and they agreed with their position. "Jamaat has already clarified its position, stating the President has no moral grounds to remain in his post," Hasnat said. He noted that Islami Andolon also expressed a desire for the prompt removal of the President based on national unity. Hasnat also said they will hold talks with other parties and alliances on these matters. "We’ll continue our discussions to reinforce the national unity that was formed before August 5 to build a new Bangladesh free from fascism." He mentioned that the discussion was held in an amicable atmosphere and that the BNP would clarify its position after discussion in their party forum. "We hope they will come up with a positive response." Apart from Hasnat, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement spokesperson Umma Fatema, Member Secretary Arif Shohel, Organiser Abdul Hannan Masud, Jatiya Nagorik Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patoari, Spokesperson Samantha Sharmin, and member Akhter Hossain were among the seven leaders present. Nasir Uddin Patiwari said, "Chuppu must go, but we are not setting a specific timeframe."

A new four-member convening committee has been formed for the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, led by coordinator Hasnat Abdullah. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Central Shaheed Minar on Tuesday night by Sarjis Alam, one of the original six central coordinators. Govt shares Law Adviser’s view about President Shahabuddin: Apurba He stated that there have been numerous fraudulent activities carried out under the names of fake coordinators across the country, emphasizing the need for a centralized effort to combat these issues. "We need to restructure our committee to address and make decisions regarding those among us who engage in such misconduct," he added. Hasnat Abdullah mentioned the ongoing work that needs to be implemented nationwide in districts and upazilas. In addition to Hasnat Abdullah as the convener, the committee includes member secretary Arif Sohel, chief organizer Abdul Hannan Masud, and spokesperson Umama Fatema.

Hasnat Abdullah, coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student movement, has said that Awami League is secretly plotting rehabilitation to regain political power, following recent events and statements. In a video message posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday afternoon, Hasnat alleged that the AL was maneuvering to restore its hold on the country, despite the recent political upheavals. ‘Only the signboard of the syndicate has changed’: Hasnat Abdullah He referred to a statement by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, where the president said that no resignation letter had been submitted by Sheikh Hasina before fleeing the country. Hasnat interpreted this as a sign that the Awami League was strategizing a comeback under the guise of political rehabilitation. "We have seen Chhatra League's recent activities at Chittagong University, where they appear to be laying the groundwork for rehabilitation," added Hasnat. "In Dhaka, various factions of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League are attempting to regroup. When you connect these incidents, it becomes evident that they are trying to revive the fascist structure." He also expressed concerns about administrative and judicial efforts being made to aid the party's rehabilitation, claiming that "attempts are underway to restore the Awami League through institutional mechanisms." To counter this, the coordinator emphasized the need for national unity, calling on citizens to join forces to resist the party’s resurgence. Referring to past political alliances, he said, "Before August 5, we were all united against the tyranny of Awami League. We stood together as the oppressed, fighting against the oppressor." He lamented that individual interests had caused divisions after August 5, creating an opening for the Awami League to plot its return. Hasnat urged people to stay united, rise above political affiliations, and resist the party's rehabilitation efforts. "We must maintain our presence on the streets and ensure the Awami League is uprooted from the soil of Bangladesh," he said, calling for a permanent ban on the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League. In response to President Shahabuddin's comments, Hasnat posted on Facebook, claiming, "Hasina has been ousted; the people have overthrown an illegal government through an uprising. There is no question of a resignation letter here."

Students on Tuesday staged demonstration early Tuesday protesting the decision of Jatiya Party that had declared Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, top two key coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, ‘persona no grata’ in Rangpur. The agitated students brought out a procession from the Medical intersection of the city around 3:30 am and ended at the same point after parading different streets including Shaheed Mukhter Elahi Chattar and Check-post. Wrongdoers must be tried: Sarjis Alam The protesters were also found chanting different slogans. Later, they held a rally where the representatives of the student movement were present. During the rally, the speakers threatened to build resistance against the Jatiya Party if the party did not seek apology immediately. They also said the Jatiya Party has no jurisdiction to declare Sarjis and Hasnat as persona non grata. Earlier, Co-Chairman of Jatiya Party and former mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, Md Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa declared them as ‘persona non grata’ in Rangpur until they withdraw their statement about Jatiya Party.  

Hasnat Abdullah, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has expressed concerns about the interim government's inability to dismantle syndicates. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he wrote, "Only the signboard of the syndicate has changed." Interim Government committed to curbing essential commodity prices by breaking syndicates: Mahfuj Alam He also highlighted the issue of rising egg prices, noting that "eggs exchange hands four times in Karwan Bazar alone while still on the truck." Hasnat also questioned the primary significance of their movement if the syndicate remains intact and prices of goods continue to soar.

Hasnat Abdullah, one of the key coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has demanded President Mohammed Shahabuddin be removed from his post. The coordinator made the demand in a post on his verified Facebook page and it has gone viral on social media. Read: Long March to Dambur Dam Friday, demands removal of one-way dams In the post he wrote, “The trial of Awami League, rewriting of the  constitution, change of Awami corrupt bureaucrats, cancellation of all illegal agreements made during Sheikh Hasina's regime and removal of Chuppu ( the President) from the post of the President have to be ensured.”