BNP backs student and teacher movements, citing ‘just’ and logical’
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
has expressed its moral backing for the ongoing student protests against the
quota system in government jobs and the university teachers' and officials'
opposition to the universal pension scheme.
The BNP considers both movements as
justified and rational.
At a press conference held this afternoon
at the BNP Chairperson's political office in Gulshan, BNP Secretary General
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the party’s position.
He disclosed that following an emergency
meeting of the BNP's standing committee on Thursday night, the decision was
made to extend moral support to these significant movements.
When asked about the BNP's role in the
anti-quota student protests, Mirza Fakhrul responded, "BNP is a political
party. We must respond to national developments.
This is primarily a student-led movement,
and direct involvement from BNP isn't necessary. However, does this mean we
should not morally support a movement that is just?"
Fakhrul contended that while quotas for
legitimate freedom fighters, women, and the physically disabled in government
jobs could be justified, they should be capped at 5 to 10 percent, rather than
the current 56 percent.
"The quota system in any
category—whether first, second, third, or fourth—does not promote
meritocracy," Fakhrul asserted.
He accused the current government, which
he described as illegal, unelected, and authoritarian, of exploiting the
judiciary to suppress valid public demands. He characterized this as an age-old
and reprehensible tactic of using courts against the rights of the people.
"We support the fair and reasonable
demands of the broader student community for quota reform," Fakhrul
emphasized.
"We believe that any attempt to
stifle the logical demands of students through judicial means will fail because
history shows that just movements of the people cannot be quashed."
Fakhrul also addressed the BNP's
endorsement of university teachers' protest against the withdrawal of the
pension scheme. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, stating,
"You cannot strip away benefits that were previously guaranteed.
Teachers do not have alternative income
sources. While others may have avenues for corruption or theft, teachers rely
solely on their salaries."
During the press conference, Fakhrul
urged the immediate repeal of the pension scheme, labeling it as another
opportunity for corrupt actions by an economically crippled government.
He argued that the government's attempt
to tap into pension funds from teachers and other sectors is unjust, given the
country's dire economic circumstances.
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