Hasnat Abdullah, the central convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has said although students and the public have been able to overthrow the Awami League, fascist elements embedded in the state structure have not been completely eradicated.
He made these remarks during a press conference on Wednesday at the central office of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Banglamotor, Dhaka.
Hasnat said: "We have overthrown the Awami fascist government led by Sheikh Hasina and established a student-people’s government. Our one-point demand during the mass uprising was the elimination of fascism. However, the work of forming a new political arrangement, restructuring the state, institutionalizing democracy, and building a Bangladesh based on equality, human dignity, and social justice remains unfinished."
He further said: "Although the fascist Sheikh Hasina government has been removed from Bangladesh, the ultimate victory has not yet been achieved. We have only managed to topple Hasina and Ganabhaban within the fascist state structure. However, we have not yet dismantled the other fascist elements within the state, nor have we achieved the ultimate victory that the people of this land have long fought for."
Hasnat continued: continued: "Throughout history—during the Pakistan era in 1947, the great Liberation War of 1971, and the uprising of 1990—the people of this land have consistently expressed their desire for a society and state free from oppression and exploitation. However, the existing political structure and parties have failed to fulfil these aspirations. They have failed to bring the people's collective aspirations to reality."
"A new political party led by students and young people is coming. We want to know what kind of party you want, and we aim to shape it accordingly. The views and opinions of the student-people will be prioritized in forming this new party," he said.
Regarding the new party, he said: "Our political party should not belong to a specific class or be tied to a rigid ideology. It should represent voices from all sectors of society. We are committed to this vision. Those who feel excluded from the existing political system—we want to represent them as well. We want to hear from all citizens and embrace everyone's aspirations."
The central convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement further said: "In 2024, at the cost of student-people’s blood, another defining moment has emerged for the people of this country. Through the uprising led by students and the people, new aspirations and a vision for the state have been formed, particularly among the younger generation."
"However, the existing political parties have failed to accommodate these aspirations. Therefore, the student-youth forces behind the uprising have taken the initiative to form a political party that embodies the newly emerged aspirations and state vision, bringing together the anti-fascist people of Bangladesh," he added.
