FROM PAGE 2

For input from other anti-fascist political parties to refine the document and discuss its upcoming programmes, the BNP held meetings with the 12-party alliance, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh, and Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote in the last two days.

It plans further discussions with its partners and those who boycotted the last parliamentary election in January 2024.

The draft declaration traces its roots from the 1971 Liberation War to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government following the July-August mass uprising led by students last year, according to party sources.

They say the declaration underscores a firm commitment to preventing the resurgence of fascism and ensuring justice for crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances and killings during Hasina’s rule.

It also stresses the urgency of holding free and fair polls and completing constitutional reforms through an elected parliament.

Leaders of the Students Against Discrimination, which spearheaded the uprising, and its citizen platform the Jatiya Nagorik Committee attempted to make a July uprising proclamation in late December last year. However, the government said it would make the proclamation itself after consensus among all the parties.

After the uprising leaders submitted their draft to political parties, an all-party meeting was convened on January 16. The BNP decided to support the students’ initiative with necessary revisions.

According to party sources, the party has carefully chosen the term “declaration” rather than “proclamation” for the document.

They said the BNP decided to draft the declaration after discussing the matter within its policymaking forum.

A standing committee member, who was involved in drafting the declaration, said that BNP adopted aspects of the students’ proclamation that align with the party’s ideology.

“We have modified and reformulated the unreasonable aspects of the students’ manifesto,” the leader added, speaking to this newspaper on condition of anonymity.

According to sources, the party believes the declaration remains relevant despite the time elapsed since the uprising and the formation of the interim government.

The core elements of the draft would remain intact, with possible minor adjustments based on the feedback from allies, according to the party sources.

Meanwhile, a comparison between the student-led draft and BNP’s version reveals key differences.

The students refer to the 1971 war as a “People’s War” while the BNP calls it the “Liberation War”, explicitly mentioning the March 26, 1971, independence declaration, which is absent in the students’ draft.

On constitutional reforms, the students criticise the 1972 constitution for failing to reflect the aspirations of Liberation War participants, advocating for its amendment or abolition.

The BNP, however, proposes systematic reforms through an elected parliament.

Its draft also highlights the formation of the interim government on August 8, 2024, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, based on the Supreme Court’s opinion under article 106 of the constitution.

In contrast, the students’ draft demands immediate structural reforms before the next election. It credits the Students Against Discrimination for leading the July uprising, while the BNP’s version attributes the mass movement to people from all sectors of society.

The BNP’s draft includes detailed casualty figures, citing over 2,000 deaths, including of women and children, and thousands left with life-altering injuries like the loss of a limb or eyesight. The details are absent in the students’ draft.

While the students focus on the persecution of students and youths under Awami League rule, the BNP’s draft broadens the scope to include opposition leaders, activists, and others.

Both drafts demand justice for crimes committed during the uprising, while the BNP also wants justice for the crimes during the 16 years of fascist rule, including enforced disappearances and human rights violations.

The students’ draft calls for a “New Republic” to address systemic oppression and inequality, urging official recognition of their declaration effective from August 5, 2024. On the other hand, the BNP’s draft focuses on constitutional reforms through an elected parliament, avoiding the term “New Republic”.

The BNP focuses more on the political struggle against the Awami League, describing the uprising as a continuation of the struggle, and emphasising the role of political parties and other organisations in leading the movement.

The students’ draft focuses on the broader societal impact of discrimination, corruption, and environmental degradation, emphasising the role of students and common people in the movement.