In a pointed address to the BNP, Mafuz Alam, the student representative of the Constitution Reform Commission and special assistant to the chief adviser, emphasised that the 7 November commemoration is meaningful but should be leveraged to foster a deeper understanding of past political failures and national priorities.
Mahfuj Alam remarked that rather than solely celebrating 7 November, reflection is needed on how misaligned alliances and structural deficiencies led to its failure and the martyrdom of Ziaur Rahman.
He urged the nation to seize the opportunity to recalibrate its path by setting aside historical hostilities in favour of national cohesion, stressing, "The battle is long, and time is limited. Reduce enemies, increase allies."
On Thursday (7 November), Alam shared his thoughts in a Facebook post, addressing the public and relevant stakeholders.
In his Facebook post, Alam wrote, "It is the responsibility of the current generation to acknowledge the legacy of previous generations."
The post continued, reflecting on the recent mass uprising, noting, "All stakeholders and forces supporting the anti-fascist movement form the backbone of this uprising, representing a truly people-endorsed government comprising all classes and political factions, including the BNP. This government is representative and elected by the people. All forces standing with the 5 August mass uprising have accepted this mandate and representation."
He highlighted that the people's demand in the mass uprising was for fundamental state reform. The student leaders, who spearheaded the uprising, explicitly sought the abolition of the fascist system and the establishment of a new political framework, asserting that their movement was not merely aimed at securing another election.
"Nearly 2,000 people did not lay down their lives for the sake of another election; if that were the case, it would have happened well before the previous three elections."
While acknowledging that the people wanted the removal of Sheikh Hasina, Mahfuj Alam stated, "They yearned for a new system, one that would not bring back oppression and fascism. The Mujibist constitution is, as we all know, the very root of fascism."
He expressed that the desire for a new Bangladesh persists among the people, urging all supporters of the uprising to honour this aspiration as a tribute to the martyrs.
"Opposing this aspiration would be tantamount to betrayal of those who fought and sacrificed."
In a strong denunciation of recent efforts, Mahfuj Alam revealed that, over the past three months, alliances have been covertly formed with fascists in an attempt to destabilise the country and question the student leadership. These efforts, he argued, have ultimately empowered the "Fascist League".
He observed, "Attempts are being made to resuscitate the fascist system, and there is reluctance and aversion towards the new political arrangement. This is profoundly disappointing. If anyone forgets the consequences of compromising with the defeated forces of 7 November, there is no need to educate them further."
Mahfuj further warned of conspiracies to create divisions within the student movement and between this generation and those in power.
"Lack of foresight, or adherence to certain directives, is causing fissures within the uprising forces. Some are unable to accept the generational shift, but this truth must be acknowledged. History has already set its course."
He concluded by stressing that the immediate priority should be to advance towards a new political arrangement that opposes fascism, guarantees fundamental rights, and prioritises policy-making and implementation for the people. This is an exceptional opportunity that no "elected" government would ever be granted, nor should it be.
"Preserve unity, accept the generation that led the uprising, and support every civil-military initiative for the people, be it governmental or private."
In closing, he reiterated, "While the commemoration of 7 November is commendable, it is more important to examine why it failed due to a lack of understanding and alignment among allied forces, leading to the martyrdom of Ziaur Rahman. Let this be a lesson for the future, and do not waste this opportunity by clinging to historical distinctions between allies and foes." He left a final call to action, "The battle is long, time is short. Reduce enemies, increase allies."
