Jatiya Nagorik Committee spokesperson Samantha Sharmin on Saturday said despite the government's claims of providing adequate security, they have failed to protect various temples from attacks across Bangladesh. In continuation of this, attacks are now taking place at shrines.
She said this during a press conference at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity on Saturday afternoon.
Samantha Sharmin, in a written statement, said: "We are asking the government why the law enforcers are still not taking action against those who are demolishing temples and shrines. We hope that the government will take immediate steps to stop this. Failure to do so will cause harm to both the government and the country."
She added that those involved in these acts were enemies of the country and the mass uprising.
During the press conference, Samantha Sharmin discussed their political agenda and plans for constitutional reforms, emphasizing the need to unify public aspirations through an 8-point demand.
She criticized the government's failure to finalize the list of martyrs a month after the fascists' fall, calling for immediate action to publish the list and provide proper medical care for the injured, aiming to foster a new political consensus and structure.
The organization’s convenor, Nasir Uddin Patwary, said his organization is determined to draft a new constitution for Bangladesh.
“We are committed to ensuring that previous mistakes do not recur in 2024. Through the new constitution, the expectations of the Bangladeshi people shall be fulfilled, and we shall eliminate any opportunity for a return of a fascist regime in Bangladesh,” he added.
Nasiruddin Patwary said: “Our political philosophy prioritizes saving Bangladesh over any political discourse or dissimilarity.”
At the press conference, Samantha Sharmin said: “No one in the Jatiya Nagorik Committee is a current member of any political organization. However, many have previous involvement in political activities, even in several organizations.”
Akhter Hossain said his party Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti decided to postpone all their political activities as two of their pivotal members—Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud—became advisers to the interim government. On the other hand, he felt the necessity of contributing to the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.
During the press conference, Samantha announced the committee's 8-point agenda:
1. To uphold the collective intentions and democratic aspirations reflected through the upsurge of the students and people.
2. To take necessary measures to ensure the punishment of those involved in the brutal killings of students and people.
3. To create a space for cooperation and accountability with the interim government for the urgent reform and restructuring of the state.
4. To work to mobilize people from all walks of life through discussion, exchange of views, and pro-people programs with various social, cultural, and political initiatives.
5. To continue resistance against fascist structures and forces with a view to upholding the aspiration of the mass upsurge by integrating social, cultural, and religious leaders at all levels of the country.
6. To organize thematic dialogues with people of different classes and professions and expatriate Bangladeshis to determine policies in favor of the public interest.
7. To formulate necessary policy proposals for the restructuring of state institutions and take necessary political steps to implement them.
8. To establish a Constituent Assembly and organize a mass discussion to create a new democratic constitution through a referendum.
