Prof Yunus never spoke against Hasina's '15 years of misrule', BNP's Hafiz alleges

BNP Standing Committee member Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has criticised the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for what he called "complete silence" on the alleged misgovernance of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina over the past 15 years.

Speaking at a discussion in Dhaka today (2 August), the BNP leader said, "None of the advisers, including the chief adviser, have spoken a single word against Sheikh Hasina's misrule. Only Asif Nazrul occasionally speaks out."

The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB Dhaka Centre) arranged the discussion to honour the families of martyrs at its auditorium, marking the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising.

He said the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina was brought down through a long struggle and many sacrifices.

Hafiz expressed sorrow that the interim government has failed to take meaningful steps to fulfil the dreams of the martyrs or ease the suffering of their families because it does not carry the spirit of the mass uprising.

The BNP leader noted that no one sacrificed their life in the movement, thinking about whether elections would be held under a proportional representation system or a seat-based one.

"They gave their lives for one reason: to bring back democracy. And the only way to do that is through elections," Hafiz said.

"Those who have tasted the pleasures of power now do not want to leave it as they have continued dragging things out with excuses like reforms," he alleged.

"The only reform we need is to hold national elections under a non-partisan caretaker government to ensure a truly free and fair vote," he said.

"Only through such a proper election can we move to a truly democratic system. Instead of coming up with new ideas every day and talking about examples from America, London, or Germany — try to focus on this. What benefit do we get from those?" he asked.

'It's painful to see 1971 sacrifices questioned'

Hafiz Uddin lamented that a political party which opposed Bangladesh's Liberation War is now trying to say the nation made a mistake in 1971.

He also said it is very unfortunate that a proposal has been made to allow unelected individuals to amend the Constitution without people's consent, reports UNB.

"Nowhere in the world's history have unelected people changed a constitution. How can they even think of changing the Constitution we built with our blood in 1972? They want to throw that away. A political party that opposed the Liberation War now wants to say that the nation made a mistake in 1971 and it was a stray nation," the BNP leader said.

Hafizuddin, a valiant freedom fighter, questioned how such people are getting the chance to say these things. "It really pains me. I was wounded in the war. I was young, full of dreams. But the Awami League did not fulfil those dreams," he said.

Hafiz said it is heartbreaking that the heroes who gave their lives in times of national crisis are often forgotten once that time passes, mainly because of the selfishness of political parties.

Hafiz said people want a leader they know and trust and someone who has stood by them in good and bad times. "People won't vote for someone they don't know, someone who has never been there for them. How can we expect that by voting for an unknown and unfamiliar election symbol?"

He said in every movement, it is the ordinary people who shed their blood and give their lives. "But a certain group of politicians enjoy the benefits and keeps misleading the nation."

Hafiz said the main reason behind the country's current dire state is the absence of an elected government.

Hafiz said that Bangladesh is no longer a people's republic. Now it is controlled by oligarchy, mobocracy, and aristocracy.