Amidst the turmoil surrounding the quota reform campaign, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s invitation for talks has been turned down by the organizers of the Anti-Discrimination Student campaign.
Coordinator Nahid Islam wrote the following at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday on his Facebook ID:
“One cannot sit down for negotiations or demand justice from a government that kills people. It’s too late to seek for forgiveness now. The authorities carried out block raids to apprehend and subject students to torture while there was still time. As long as the government keeps Arif Sohel, Akhtar Hossain, and other people in jail, we won’t reach a compromise.
Nahid responded, “I made the announcement in a Facebook status,” when asked to confirm the post. Please check it.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed interest in having a conversation with the protest organizers over breakfast on Saturday.
She declared, “The Gonobhaban’s doors are open.” “I wish to take a seat next to the quota opponents. I’m interested in hearing their opinions. I want no conflicts.
Nahid replied as follows on Facebook:
On July 19, we declared that our shutdown program would go forward and defied the curfew. That statement could not be published by any media outlet. I was brutally beaten and imprisoned that evening for making this statement, and I was forced to cancel the protest and attend a meeting with the authorities.
“The students were demonstrating nonviolently. It was suppressed by the government, which also encouraged conflict and bloodshed. They killed hundreds of people, put in place a curfew, and disabled the internet. This will not be beneficial to anyone if it occurs once again.
Nahid mentioned that the demonstration organizers were supposed to be transported from the police Detective Branch office to the Prime Minister’s Office.
“Due to our hunger strike and street protests, the plan did not succeed.”
“We wish to carry on with our peaceful demonstration. We oppose all forms of violence, retaliation, and murder. For this to happen, security forces must collaborate. The law enforcement agencies ought to be held accountable if Awami terrorists are spotted on the streets. But opposition will grow if there is bloodshed. Justice and life security are what we seek. There’s a big movement now. Propaganda, conspiracy, and repression of any type cannot halt the movement.
Asif Mahmud, another coordinator, also shared something on Facebook.
“We refuse to engage in any form of conversation with a government that kills people. Furthermore, negotiations with the Awami League political party are out of the question.
“We don’t intend to bargain with them. Our expectations are very clear. They are free to speak to the media in front of their fellow citizens if they have any statements to make. Our decisions are the same as those made by the public and students. There is no conversation about terror and gunshots.
He said in a another post: “They advised us to stop moving and meet with the prime minister when we were stuck at the DB office. They even intended to drag us to the Gonobhaban by force. We embarked on a hunger strike in protest and to demand our freedom.
“I am willing to pay the price of dying if it means that I will not change my mind. I am advocating for all Bangladeshi citizens to take part in the student and citizen uprising.
