Farhad Mazhar accuses Dr Yunus of leading Bangladesh to 'very dangerous' place

 
Poet and political thinker Farhad Mazhar has criticised Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus for taking Bangladesh to a "very dangerous place" by prioritising elections without sincerely implementing the aims of the July Uprising. Speaking at a discussion titled "Fascist state system and elections" on Tuesday at the National Press Club's Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall, Mazhar said Yunus is "not part of the mass uprising".

Mazhar said many involved in the movement had faced bullets on the streets, endured years of oppression, were denied a voice, confined to their homes, and even targeted for assassination.

In contrast, he claimed, Yunus had not made such sacrifices.

He added, "Despite that, why did we accept them? Why didn't we oppose them? You have heard my statement. We accepted them because we hoped that, given Bangladesh's geopolitical weaknesses, we could overcome these vulnerabilities if we gained their goodwill and sincerity.
"We hoped he would understand our hearts and the intent of the Uprising."

"But he did not understand," Mazhar said. "Not just that, the direction he has taken now is extremely dangerous for Bangladesh."
Mazhar also criticised the way Yunus foregrounded leaders of the July Uprising protests.

He said Yunus made a "grave error" by arriving and labelling young students as "masterminds".

"I was taken aback -- how could he? The people are what philosophers call the political subject. The real authority and leadership of the mass uprising lies with the people, not with any individual."

He noted that those who actively took part in the protests included organised groups, secular activists, leftists and many from the Students Against Discrimination.

"Together they led the Uprising. The main condition for that leadership was that we acted non partisan; protecting party interests was not our priority. Our primary aim was to overthrow this 'fascist' government and state system, and to begin building a new state. That was our objective."

Pointing to the human cost of the movement, Mazhar said thousands have died, many have been maimed, and many remain in hospital.

"Yunus sees this reality. After so much sacrifice, on what basis do you now call for elections? That is my complaint against you."

Mazhar insisted there are no "genuine" political parties in Bangladesh. "Prove to me that there are. Parties should serve the people, guide the state and nation, and bring new ideas.

"Instead, the country is run by corrupt, looting mafia groups masquerading as parties. Until the state is freed from this, discussing elections is meaningless."

The chief advisor announced the parliamentary polls for February, and political parties are preparing while the Election Commission grows busier.
Mazhar, however, said he finds no meaning in that process. "Why do you want to hold elections, Yunus? That raises questions. You came through a mass uprising; you are not its hero. You are not part of it.

"No room for misunderstanding exists here. I have repeatedly told you this. Yet you sit down to talk with political parties, not with the people. We have not seen you go to districts and speak to ordinary people after such a great Uprising, nor have we seen you defend their interests."
He criticised Yunus's frequent foreign trips during his one to one and a half year tenure.

"You stay for a year to one and a half years, yet you travel the world. That makes no sense. Try to understand the country's problems first.
"Who told you to build national consensus?" he asked. "We did not call for national consensus. We carried out an Uprising and formed a government."

Mazhar questioned the logic of forming a caretaker body while swearing to uphold the Constitution associated with Sheikh Hasina's administration. "Then why did you form this government? What is the rationale?"

He also raised doubts over whether deposed prime minister Hasina actually resigned and demanded proof.

"I say: Article 106 was submitted to you. Show us what that opinion was, who gave it, which Supreme Court lawyer or judge offered an opinion. We want to talk, we want to argue. Our president has received a resignation letter from the then prime minister.

"I urge Yunus to show us that resignation letter. You have not produced it. Then the president says he does not know where the resignation letter is. That cannot be.

"You cannot make a mockery of the state. You cannot play games with the lives of 170 million people," he added.

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