Awami League's joint general secretary and former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said that his party is ready to work together with BNP if necessary to “restore democracy” in the country.
He said this in an interview given to London-based 'Channel S' television on Sunday (November 3). After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. This is the first interview of a top leader of Awami League almost three months after taking charge of the interim government led by Yunus.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, the party's ministers, MPs and leaders went into hiding. According to media reports, Hasan Mahmood left the country secretly in such a situation. However, how he left the country and where he is staying could not be confirmed.
Personally agreeing with many statements of BNP leaders on various issues, Hashan Mahmud said that BNP is talking about restoration of democracy, a free, impartial and fair election, we agree with that and if necessary we will work together with BNP to restore democracy.
'Awami League: Abandoned, frustrated, cornered?' Bulbul Hasan took the interview called 'Opinion' in this program. Hasan Mahmud said in a question, “We agree with many statements of BNP”. Together with the 1-11 government, we campaigned for the return of democracy, for the liberation of democracy, and democracy has returned.
He said, 'We agree with many of the statements made by BNP Acting Chairman Mr. Tarek Rahman or BNP Secretary General Mr. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.'
Joint General Secretary of Awami League said, “Especially Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'Who are we to ban political parties?'- I agree with this question.” Even after banning the Chhatra League on paper, they spoke against it. I agree with their statement.
He said that BNP's top leaders, including the Acting Chairman and Secretary General, have stated that the sole aim of the interim government should be to hand over power to the people's representatives through a free, fair, participatory election—a statement with which I fully agree.
Hasan Mahmud said, “We also agree with the statement made by BNP after the attack and arson of the National Party office. I attacked a political party by posting it on Facebook, the office of that political party was set on fire — I can't find any statement from the government on this.”
He said, “No government is the last government, it must be remembered; In our case we were not the last government either.”
This time, when the host mentioned, “You didn't remember that,” Hashan Mahmud said, “Many didn't remember it.” I always remember. I have always remembered myself. But many did not remember, which is correct. So this government is not the last government. Everyone should keep this in mind.'
He said, they handcuffed the ministers of the previous government, threw eggs, they set a terrible example for the future, we have to wait for what happens in the future.
Awami League leader Hasan Mahmud said in response to a question about the banning of Jamaat-e-Islami's politics, “I don't want to say anything in this regard today.” But I think banning a political party does not make it banned.
He said, “Bangladesh needs an upper house. As it is in different countries including India, Pakistan. Through it intellectuals and civil society can be included in the work of the state. There is a large intellectual society in our country, a large civil society, they want to contribute to the governance of the state, they can contribute, but they widely feel that they are not being given the opportunity.
Hasan Mahmud said that it is difficult for an ordinary intellectual to get elected in the electoral system in our country. Because the amount of time they have to spend in politics and the way politics has become, it is difficult for them to get elected.
He said, “If there is such an upper house through the Electoral College, then we can involve the intellectual class of our country, the civil society of our country.”
“In that case many meritorious people will be able to contribute to the state work. Acting Chairman of BNP also spoke on this issue. He also spoke for the Upper House.”
Joint General Secretary of Awami League said that what is needed more before reforming the state, and the main responsibility of reforming the state is the people's representatives, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, I agree with him hundred percent. I think it is necessary to reform the state through elected representatives. And state reform is an ongoing process, that process doesn't end in three months, six months, three years.”
Hasan Mahmud said, of course we made mistakes while running the state, mistakes happen. We admit those mistakes and people learn from them. The disappointment among people today, with the price of goods, with law and order, with the future, I hope, with the collective efforts of all of us, this disappointment will disappear, the country will be good. A relaxed atmosphere will return to the country. We all want to work together towards this goal.
Regarding BNP's non-participation in 2014 and 2024 elections, he said, “BNP has always boycotted elections, tried to prevent elections. But since we were in charge, we had a failure in this area that we failed to bring BNP to the polls. It was our political failure not to bring them to the polls in 2014 and 2024.”
Asked whether the matter was discussed in the party forum, he said, “We have discussed it in various forums, not that there has been a detailed discussion in the party forum. However, there have been discussions about bringing BNP to the elections. There has been a lot of discussion about bringing BNP to the elections, why BNP is necessary.”
Hasan Mahmood said that the party leaders and workers have no reason to be disappointed, “I will say to all of them – this darkness will pass and soon a healthy normal environment will return to the country and I have been with the people in the past and will be in the future.” Our leader Sheikh Hasina, she is aware of everything, she is in touch with everyone and her morale is 100% strong and we think, very soon this darkness will end.”
When asked about Awami League's program and comeback, Hashan Mahmud said, “We are consciously waiting. Now, if we come down with a political program, many people from the government side would say that because of us, the state is not able to run, because of us, the price of goods is increasing, this is happening.
He said, “Garment workers still say 'tyranny is coming back' when they protest. As garment workers, when the workers protest after the demolition of the shrine, when the statement 'tyranny is coming back' is given, we are consciously silent so that we are not blamed.” .”
Hasan Mahmud said, Awami League is a party which has millions of leaders and workers, billions of supporters. That's why Awami League has never run out, will never run out. Awami League wants the country to be well, the people of the country to be well. Awami League is now consciously silent.
To a question about keeping prisoners in the 'mirror' to suppress dissent, he said, “After the Awami League, the government has been in power for almost three months, so where is the mirror?” The RAB chief of this government said that no existence of 'Mirror' has been found. So mirror room, mirror room…”.
Referring to the words of legal adviser Asif Nazrul about the presence of 2.6 lakh Indians in Bangladesh, Hashan Mahmud said, “My question to him is where are the 26 lakh Indians?” Where is the mirror? He is a legal adviser, show that to the people.”
Claiming that Awami League is not in favor of vindictive behavior, Hashan Mahmud said, “Politics of denial, politics of dialectics, politics of hatred should leave Bangladesh forever. Let there be a tolerant political situation in the country.”
He said that there will be an election, after the election those who will form the government through fair and free elections, those who will be in the opposition party, there will be constructive criticism. In this way, even if the opposition party goes to the government again, the same trend will remain. That should be it.”
Hashan Mahmud said about the casualties in the student movement, “How much is the number being given?” There is a big question about it. Some say as many as a hundred, some say a thousand or more. Everything is being said in a 'veig term'.”
When the presenter mentioned the government's claim of around 1500 dead, Hasan Mahmud said, “This is what the government is saying. Let the name reveal a little. It has never been revealed who has been killed and where.
He said, the identity of 43 policemen has been disclosed. It is more than what has been published in the international media. It has been said in various international media that 3 thousand 224 policemen have been killed, if you want I will send it. The actual number of victims is still under investigation.”
To another question, he said, “Only the killings of July-August, the killings of July-August – the killings are still happening. I don't hear about them. Are these not considered murders?”
When asked about Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader's incitement of Chhatra League-Police and denial of responsibility, he said, “First of all, when the police are attacked, don't the police have the right to defend themselves?” There have been serial killings by the police, you have seen it yourself. Police cars were surrounded and hacked to death and the police were fired upon, and the police did not fire in self-defence, they certainly did.”
He said, that's why we never deny the responsibility of this police. Nor do we deny government liability. Still not denying. Of course, if you are in charge, you have to take responsibility.”
Hashan Mahmud also claimed that hundreds of activists of Chhatra League and Awami League were killed before August 5. “There was massive support from the beginning,” said Hasan Mahmud, giving a personal opinion that it was a mistake to let the quota reform movement go so far. I think it would have been better if we had resolved the matter in a different way rather than leaving it entirely in the hands of the courts. It was wrong to let it go this far.”
Responding to a question about 'international conspiracy' to topple the government, Hasan Mahmud said, “Bangabandhu's family was killed as part of an international conspiracy. Four national leaders were killed. There was a domestic and foreign conspiracy, not that we did not understand. Conspiracy was always there and always understood. We were aware and the events of August 5 were made possible through domestic and foreign conspiracies.
