For two months, I’ve been in uncertainty over when I may have to step down: Mahfuj
'Political parties need to consider how they can cooperate with those working in these roles, instead of creating obstacles, and allow us to carry out our responsibilities,' says Information Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam.
Information Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam has said he has been in a state of uncertainty for the past two months over whether and when he may have to leave his post, noting that political parties have been demanding since May the resignation of student representative advisers.
"I have been living in uncertainty for the past two months, wondering when I might have to step down. I do not know when that will happen," Mahfuj said at a dialogue titled "Media Self-Regulation and Complaint Mechanisms: Political and Policy Perspectives" held at the Cirdap auditorium in Dhaka today (28 September), reports Prothom Alo.
Calling for cooperation, the adviser, a key figure in last year's student-led July Uprising, continued, "Political parties need to consider how they can cooperate with those working in these roles, instead of creating obstacles, and allow us to carry out our responsibilities."
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Mahfuj said that since May, political parties have been chanting slogans demanding the resignation of student advisers in the interim government, which he said he could hear from his official residence.
The adviser also said, "When we took charge, people from BNP and Jamaat came and said everything had to be fair. Then the VC and pro-VC posts were divided among them. There was tussle over the administration. All of this happened right before my eyes."
Talking about the media industry, he pointed out that the draft journalism protection bill must go through 18 steps before becoming law. He said although he instructed officials to start the process two months ago, it is still stuck at the second stage.
However, the adviser expressed hope that the law will be enacted during the tenure of the interim government.
Highlighting the challenges he faces, Mahfuj said while other advisers who assumed their office in August last year are still struggling to understand their responsibilities, he took office at a time when uncertainty looms over whether he might have to resign the very next day.
