The anti-discrimination student movement will not support any form of government other than the government supported or proposed by the student-citizens who revolted. They said that the revolutionary students would not accept a government backed by the military or a presidential government with a state of emergency.
Nahid Islam, the coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement platform of the quota reform movement, said these things in a press conference at the office of private television in Tejgaon of the capital on Monday night. Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Asif Mahmud and Abu Bakr Majumdar were present among other coordinators at that time.
It was informed in the press conference that the anti-discrimination student movement will outline the interim national government within 24 hours. Until then, they called upon the students to sit on the streets peacefully.
Nahid Islam, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, “We are all united regardless of party, opinion and religion. If any kind of communal incitement, sabotage or division is attempted, the liberation students must stop it. The freedom-loving students must be vigilant and protect the country’s resources.
Nahid Islam also said, “Fascist Sheikh Hasina was brought down through a student-citizen coup. We are dedicating this coup to the martyrs, casualties and freedom-loving students of the movement. Our one-point demand was the downfall of the dictatorial Sheikh Hasina government and the abolition of the fascist system. We think that the problem will not be solved only by removing the individual, but we have to make a new political settlement by abolishing the state structure through which such fascism is created. The fall of Sheikh Hasina from that place is the first step of our movement, which we have achieved. Now we have to go to the second phase.
Stating that they will propose an interim national government within the next 24 hours, Nahid Islam said, “This government will be proposed by the students-citizens who made the coup. The student-citizens in the coup will have their share in that national government. We will announce the outline of an interim national government and the names of the people who will be in that government by ensuring the representation of professionals and various parties including civil society.
Nahid Islam said, “In order to do the work, we will soon make a liaison committee that will negotiate with the various parties on our behalf.”
Nahid said, “We will not support any type of government other than the government supported or proposed by the students-citizens who revolted.” Be it a military-backed government or a presidential government with a state of emergency—no such government will be accepted by the revolutionary students. Our appeal to the freedom-loving students is to stay on the streets until the final (national) government outline is announced. We have to be careful that on the occasion of the movement, the friends of fascism may still try to question the legitimacy of the movement by committing various kinds of incidents and sabotage-violence.
Calling upon the students, Nahid Islam further said, ‘This country and national wealth is ours; So that no one listens to any kind of looting, communal attacks and any kind of incitement. Freedom students must be vigilant and protect the country’s resources. We do not want any killing or violence. We will stay in the streets peacefully. The anti-discrimination student movement will be in the field for the safety of life and property of all. We are a protest against the fascist regime and the murderous government. Irrespective of party-like religion we are all united. If any kind of communal incitement, sabotage or division is attempted here, the freedom-loving students must stop it.
Nahid declared those who were martyred in the movement as national heroes. He said, “Coordinators of our movement, agitators and innocent people have been arrested all over the country.” We announce to release of all the royal prisoners including them within the next 24 hours. We said Sheikh Hasina’s resignation will not be the only solution. This is a genocide and earlier, from the Pilkhana massacre to various genocides, disappearances, murders, human rights violations, disenfranchisement, etc., they must be prosecuted. Sheikh Hasina does not have to run away, we will bring her to justice. Those who directly aided and abetted fascism would also be brought to justice. We will establish justice in society by following a process.
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