Students and other people on Friday announced a ‘10-point charter for the interest of all’ at a rally in the capital to prevent any attempts to bring back autocracy and fascism, calling on all to implement the charter in their respective neighbourhoods.
‘Gono Abhyuthankari Chhatra Janata’ (students and people behind the mass uprising) platform organised the rally at Basabo Balur Math where hundreds of students and other residents of at least 10 neighbourhoods, namely Basabo, Sabujbagh, Mayakanan, Ahmedbagh, Kadamtala, Khilgaon, Nandipara, Rajarbagh, Dakhingaon, Mugda and Manda in the eastern part of the city, gathered.
Their charter includes, banning of any kinds of extortions; freedom of speech, prevention of attacks on minority communities, gender equality, among others, to ensure welfare of all citizens.
Basabo resident Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said that students and common people fought to abolish autocracy and fascism from the country.
‘We will not allow the return of autocracy and fascism in the country,’ said Mahtab.
Former student of Dhaka University Dhrubani Mahbub said that people from all walks of life joined the movement that was begun by students.
‘We did not fight to serve someone’s interest. We fought for the interest of people,’ said Dhrubani, announcing the 10-point declaration, made on behalf of students and people in the neighbourhoods, to ensure that autocracy and fascism can never make a return.
The 10-point charter is—banning extortions by police or any other groups; prohibiting attacks on homes or places of worship belonging to minority communities; prohibiting sexual harassment and ensuring equal respect for women; prohibiting acts of intimidation and terrorising and looting; guaranteeing full freedom of speech and prohibiting any police torture or intimidation for expressing one’s own opinions; prohibiting acts of intimidation to force anyone to participate in rallies and meetings; prohibition of detaining anyone by the police without police warrant, while police members must behave with citizens decently; taking responsibility for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in one’s own surroundings; prohibiting abusing citizen’s self-esteem and dignity; prohibiting destruction of any structures or sculptures.
Speakers from the rally called on all to implement the charter in their respective neighbourhoods and build strong resistance against violators of the charter.
Asiya Akter, a student of Sabujbagh Government College, addressing the rally, urged all the neighbourhoods to work together to prevent autocracy and fascism from returning.
Students of BRAC University, East West University, Madartek Abdul Aziz High School and College, Motijheel Government Boys’ High School, Habibullah Bahar College and Rajarbag Police Lines School and College, among others, were present at the rally.
New Age
