Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has stated that although Sheikh Hasina has been removed from power and left the country, the remnants of fascism remain deeply embedded in the nation.
He said this on Friday afternoon at a program held at the Officers’ Club, commemorating three months since the mass uprising.
Asif Mahmud paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the anti-discrimination student movement, acknowledging their role in enabling freedom of speech and open dialogue.
He said: “Thanks to their sacrifices, we can now speak freely. Citizens are no longer hesitant or fearful about expressing their opinions, whether online or in public. This freedom allows us to contribute actively to the reconstruction of the nation.”
The advisor expressed his vision of building a welfare-oriented state free from fascism.
He said: “We are committed to erasing all traces of fascist influence. Our dream is to create a country where citizens can live without fear and contribute to a collective vision for progress.”
He also stressed the collaborative nature of governance, saying: “The government is not just made up of 24 advisors and a chief advisor. You are also part of the government. While we make policy decisions, their implementation is in your hands.”
Asif Mahmud criticized the policies of the previous administration, describing them as anti-people and anti-democratic, enforced by collaborators within the bureaucracy.
He announced the formation of a Public Administration Reform Commission to address these issues.
“We need your suggestions on how to implement structural reforms to prevent future partisanship and servitude in the administration. Together, we must ensure that the bureaucracy remains impartial and serves the interests of the people,” he urged.
The program concluded with a call for collective effort and vigilance to rebuild the nation on democratic and egalitarian principles.
