Poet, essayist, and political commentator Farhad Mazhar described the fall of the Awami League government in the student and public uprising as a “victory of the people over fascist forces,” and referred to it as a “thousand times more difficult than the French Revolution.”

He stated, “The division between religiosity and secularism has been broken by the youth. This is the most significant aspect of this revolution. The main political task now is to establish the sovereign will of the people.”

Farhad Mazhar made these comments during a lecture at the R.C. Majumdar Auditorium of Dhaka University on Monday. The lecture, titled "People’s Uprising, Interim Government, and the Constitution," was organized by Bhavabaitaki.

Many from Dhaka University, including teachers and students, attended the event. After the lecture, Farhad Mazhar answered various questions from the audience.

Calling for the people to be engaged in the uprising and to transform it into a people’s revolutionary movement, Farhad Mazhar said, “The counter-revolution occurred because we, unfortunately, allowed the entire revolution to enter Bangabhaban or Ganabhaban.”

“This is a great tragedy of the people’s uprising. It should have taken place in front of the Central Shahid Minar or Rajhu Sculpture,” he said, adding that Dr. Muhammad Yunus should have come and said that he had been elected “President by the will of the people.”

“Thus, the old state system no longer exists. One way to correct the counter-revolution is to embrace the concept of people’s sovereignty,” said Farhad Mazhar.

Regarding the uprising, he stated, “The entire people’s uprising has been successful because we did not prioritize our so-called identities. We prioritized the goal of expelling the fascists. What has happened is a thousand times more difficult than the French Revolution. This victory is a triumph of the people’s uprising against fascist forces.”

Farhad Mazhar said, "The unwritten intention expressed through the people’s uprising now needs to be documented. If we want to maintain a temporary constitution with the interim government's Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he (Dr. Yunus) should make a straightforward statement,” he said.

“That would be the abolition of all laws except those conflicting with international human rights. Our main political task now is to establish the sovereign will of the people," he added.

Regarding the formation of a Constitutional Council, he said, "We want to reorganize Bangladesh in a new way. We need to form thousands of Constitutional Councils across various universities, districts, and upazilas like this discussion.”

Through these councils, said Farhad, the people will express what they want and their intentions. The ideas and consensus emerging from this will form the basis of the future constitution. Therefore, Constitutional Councils must be announced across the country immediately.

He also said Mohammad Shahabuddin must be removed from the presidency immediately because he is appointed by Sheikh Hasina. “Fascists must not be allowed to remain in power," he said.

Farhad Mazhar emphasized the formation of a political constituency. He said, "The people are still divided in various ways. Breaking this division is very important. We call this 'formation.' We must adopt a genuine politico-legal concept internationally accepted, avoiding the trap of nationalism.”

“This is called a political constituency. We all are part of it with our diversity. This is our strength. Formation means reducing this division," he added.

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