Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Convener Hasnat Abdullah has said that the student leaders conveyed the people’s message from the streets to the Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus amid the escalating tensions between Bangladesh and India.
He said: “We conveyed the people’s message from the streets to the Chief Adviser and emphasized the need for the state to reveal all secret treaties with India.”
Hasnat was speaking to the reporters on Tuesday afternoon following a meeting with the chief adviser at state guest house Jamuna.
Around 8:30pm, following the meeting, four prominent leaders of the movement—Hasnat Abdullah, Abdul Hainan Masud, Arif Sahel, and Umama Fatema—emerged from the State Guesthouse Jamuna to address journalists. No other student leaders were seen after the meeting.
When asked about the discussion, Hasnat Abdullah said: “We, as key leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, came to Jamuna to discuss the recent issues causing tensions in the country. We requested the Chief Adviser to disclose all hidden treaties previously signed with India.”
He added: “We informed the Chief Adviser that there is a misleading narrative being spread internationally, portraying the mass uprising as a rise of Islamism and fundamentalism in Bangladesh. In reality, it was a genuine movement by the people of Bangladesh.”
When asked about the absence of other student organizations expected at the meeting, Abdul Hainan Masud said: “Only those of us who actively participated in the movement were invited to discuss the current issues with the chief adviser today.”
He continued: “We believe that the unity established before the August 5 revolution remains intact, which is why we came here to represent everyone.”
Hasnat Abdullah further asserted: “The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement continues to serve as the vanguard of this movement. We will fight together to protect the sovereignty of our country.”
He urged India to view this interim government as a product of the mass uprising rather than likening it to the former Awami League government.
Earlier, during a press briefing, the Chief Adviser’s press secretary said that student leaders would meet the Chief Adviser first, followed by meetings with political leaders today and religious leaders tomorrow. These discussions aim to counteract misinformation being spread by Indian media about Bangladesh.
“The main objective of these meetings is to forge national unity. The Chief Adviser will call for unity across all communities,” said Shafiqul.
He also accused Indian media of actively promoting misinformation campaigns against Bangladesh and inciting violence through their reporting.
“We are inviting international media, including outlets from India, to visit Bangladesh and observe the situation firsthand,” he added.