Photo: Collected.
Dhaka //

After the fall of the Awami League government in the student-public uprising, extortion is starting again in many places, said Anu Muhammad, a former professor of the economics department of Jahangirnagar University. He said that a new extortion group is emerging again. The oppression of leaseholders in the markets has not stopped yet. He demanded an active role of the government in this regard.

Anu Muhammad made these remarks at a press conference at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club in the capital on Thursday morning. The Democratic Rights Committee organized a press conference titled “To what extent has the interim government’s immediate action plan been implemented in 100 days?”

Professor Anu Muhammad, one of its members, reviewed the progress of the 13-point demands that were presented to the interim government by the Rights Committee on October 5.

Maha Mirza, joint convener of the Democratic Rights Committee, read out 13-point proposals one by one at the press conference. Anu Muhammad reviewed their progress. Anu Muhammad said that a gathering program of all class, religious, gender, ethnic, professional and cultural diversity of Bangladesh will be held at the Central Shaheed Minar next Saturday at 3 pm under the banner of the Democratic Rights Committee under the title ‘Unity of Diversity’.

Anu Muhammad said, we do not understand why the full list of martyrs, missing and injured persons has not yet been published. The families of the martyrs and injured persons have not yet accepted the responsibility. The trial has started in the International Crimes Tribunal. But since the cases are not specific, we have doubts about how much justice will be done.

False and harassing cases filed in the past 15 years have not yet been withdrawn. The Constitution Reform Commission will soon present an outline to the nation. Based on that, we will see a final outline after examining public opinion. A lot more work remains to be done in terms of the independence of the judiciary. Some questions have already been raised about the appointment of judges. The government should consider these seriously.

Stating that there is no effective step to control the prices of commodities, Anu Muhammad said that the prices of commodities are not actually under control. In the case of products like oil, eggs and onions, it is seen that only a few companies control them. Many times, artificial crises are created. The government has not played a proper role in this place. The reports of the two investigation committees formed during the previous government regarding bank robbery, money laundering or share manipulation should be published.

Anu Muhammad expressed hope that the promise of not renewing rental and quick rental contracts will be implemented specifically. She said that through the 2010 Immunization Act, Sheikh Hasina’s government has signed many life-threatening projects in the country and many types of contracts that are dangerous and risky for the country. That law has been repealed. I hope that the process of canceling the projects under this law will proceed properly.

In response to a question from journalists, Anu Muhammad said that the country’s electoral system had collapsed. After 2008, there has been practically no election in Bangladesh. Since 2014, the Hasina government has been an unelected government that has expired. The collapse that occurred in the election will have to be repaired and reformed.

Among others, the joint conveners of the Democratic Rights Committee, Professor Harun-or-Rashid and Abdullah Kafi Ratan, and member Professor Mosahida Sultana Ritu, spoke at the press conference. Joint convener of the committee, Seema Dutta, filmmaker Akram Khan, and Michael Chakma, who returned from exile, were present.