l PM’s offer for talks rejected
l National govt demanded
The key coordinators of the quota reform movement on Saturday announced their one-point demand seeking resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet members, terming it as the “demand of students.”
Nahid Islam, Sargis Alam and other key coordinators of the quota reform movement, made the announcement from a massive rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital city of Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.
They also gave a 24-hour ultimatum to reopen all university halls for students.
Elaborating the points for non-cooperation movement, they said they will enforce the movement from Sunday.
“The vast majority of people, including students, teachers, workers and labourers feel that impartial trial and investigation is not possible under this government. Therefore, we announce a one-point demand for the resignation of the current government,” the statement reads.
“At the same time, we demand the formation of an inclusive national government under the leadership of a person acceptable to all,” said the protest coordinators. Meanwhile, refusing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call, coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Saturday said they have no plan to sit with the government.
They came up with the statement hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday called upon the agitating students to sit with her at her official Ganabhaban residence here to put an end to violence centering the quota reform movement
Asif Mahmud, another coordinator of the movement, wrote on Facebook, “When we were detained in the DB office, we were asked to meet with the
Prime Minister and suspend the movement. There was even a plan to take us to Ganobhaban forcibly.
“We went on a hunger strike in protest against this proposal and to demand our release,” he wrote.
“We are ready to pay the price of an uncompromising stance, even if it means death. We call for the participation of every citizen of Bangladesh in the student-citizen uprising,” Asif wrote.
Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the agitating students to sit with her at her official Ganabhaban residence here to put an end to violence centering the quota reform movement.
“The door of Ganabhaban is open. I want to sit with the agitating students of the movement and listen to them. I want no conflict,” she said.
The prime minister made the remarks in a meeting with the central leaders of the Peshajibi Somonnoy Parishad (Professionals Coordination Council) at Ganabhaban on Saturday morning.
She also asked the authorities concerned to release the detained general students.
The prime minister, as well, assured of holding trial of each killing during the anti-quota movement.
“Trial of each of the killing must be held,” she said.
“I am telling again that I’m still agreed to hold talks if the agitators want. They can come any time (to Ganabhaban). If required they can come with their guardians,” she said.
She also announced cancelling the proposed, universal pension scheme “Prottoy” for universities, autonomous and state-owned organisations.
Sheikh Hasina said she never closed her doors rather she is eagerly waiting to hear the demands of the agitating students.
“I want to hear their demands. We will try our best to implement those. I don’t want this conflict, “ she said.
The Prime Minister said their main demand which was quota reform has already been met.
Apart from this, she said, she has already instructed to release the innocent people that include general students from the jail.
“I have already asked to start releasing innocent people and students who were not involved in the killings and destructions. And it has already started,” she said.
The HSC students (detained after the mayhem) have already been released, she said.
The Prime Minister, however, reiterated her vow that those involved in killings and massive destruction across the country would be brought to justice through proper investigation.
“I want those who have been involved in such acts, whoever they might be, maybe police or any other people, must be brought to book through proper investigation,” she said.
To this end, she said the policemen responsible for the incident (death of a student named Sayeed) in Rangpur have already been suspended.
“Investigation against him (the cop) has already started and he must be exposed to justice,” she said.
The Prime Minister reminded all that they formed a one-member judicial enquiry commission with a High Court judge well before raising the demand.
She continued that the commission was later made a three-member one with inclusion of two more judges of the apex court by enhancing its periphery and time of submitting the probe report so that they can properly investigate into the matters.
She went on saying, “ I want to make it clear whoever were involved in killings must be brought to justice.”
Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday night assigned three senior Awami League (AL) leaders to talk to quota reform movement coordinators.
“We are trying to communicate with them,” AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif MP, one of the three assigned leaders, said.
Two other leaders assigned by the Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, are the party’s praesidium member, Jahangir Kabir Nanok MP and joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim MP.
Highly placed sources said that Sheikh Hasina assigned them to hold talks with the quota reform movement coordinators after a meeting at Gano Bhaban on Friday night.
