Hasnat Abdullah, the convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has warned that the interim government's leniency towards those who enabled fascism will result in an enduring ordeal for the nation.
In a verified Facebook post on Thursday morning (26 December), Hasnat Abdullah expressed his concerns about the consequences of tolerating such individuals.
"Leniency shown by the interim government towards the enablers of fascism will condemn this ill-fated nation to eternal suffering," he stated in his post.
He further elaborated that the enablers of fascism, nurtured during the rule of Hasina, are now campaigning to gain sympathy for fascists under the guise of human rights advocacy.
"If this campaign cannot be stopped, you are doomed—today it is bureaucrats; tomorrow, it will be someone else," warned the student leader in his post.
Meanwhile, in a previous social media post, Hasnat Abdullah refuted claims of influencing journalist suspensions at Somoy TV, highlighting the broadcaster’s controversial reporting during the recent uprising.
The suspension of several journalists at Somoy TV, reported on Tuesday by AFP news agency, has ignited controversy amid claims of external influence.
Hasnat denied allegations that the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement pressured City Group, owners of the television station, into taking action against its staff.
In a statement, the group clarified their recent visit to the City Group office, emphasising that their purpose was to lodge peaceful protests against Somoy TV’s journalistic conduct during the July–August mass uprising. The uprising witnessed the tragic deaths of approximately 2,000 people, including hundreds of students, who were killed by Sheikh Hasina's security forces during broad daylight crackdowns.
The group accused Somoy TV, along with other media outlets, of unethical journalism. They alleged that these organisations portrayed protesters as "terrorists," "miscreants," and "Islamist extremists" to delegitimise their cause and justify the violent state-led repression. Somoy TV was singled out for allegedly playing a leading role in this narrative and for supporting Sheikh Hasina's administration in its 16-year tenure, which the group claims was marked by crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and harsh crackdowns on opposition voices.
Additionally, the group highlighted Somoy TV’s purported smear campaigns against dissidents, including prominent individuals such as Shahidul Alam, David Bergman, Leesa Gazi, and AFP Fact Check Editor Qadaruddin Shishir.
AFP’s report on the matter has also drawn criticism.
The group disputed AFP’s depiction of their visit to City Group as an act of intrusion, asserting it was a legitimate protest against Somoy TV’s anti-protester stance. Furthermore, the group expressed disappointment at AFP’s minimal reference to the broadcaster’s controversial reporting during the uprising and its broader role in dehumanising demonstrators.
“It is appalling that AFP seeks to portray Somoy TV journalists as victims rather than acknowledging their alignment with a propaganda apparatus akin to Nazi-era mouthpieces,” said Hasnat Abdullah.
He clarified that no list of journalists was submitted to City Group for termination, nor were demands for shares in the television station made and dismissed these claims as baseless and part of a smear campaign, echoing tactics previously used by Somoy TV.
The managing director of Somoy TV and the leadership of City Group have not attributed the suspensions to external pressure.
Reiterating their commitment to press freedom, the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement paid tribute to journalists who lost their lives during the uprising and praised those who reported fearlessly in the face of state violence.
The group also extended gratitude to the foreign press for their role in exposing the truth.
“Our cause is rooted in justice and freedom,” the group stated.
“We salute the reporters and editors who stood up to Sheikh Hasina’s oppressive regime and upheld the integrity of journalism.”
