Dr. Mahtab Hossain Mazed

In one word, the way a class of miscreant nationalists carried out violent riots from 17 to 21 July across the country, including Dhaka, by subverting the 'anti-discrimination' student movement, is in one word incredibly exciting. The people of the country were frightened by the loss of state property and lives around the movement.

In view of this curfew was issued for an indefinite period. Although the curfew is being relaxed every day, relief is beginning to return to people's lives and operations have already started in offices-courts, banks-commercial establishments, factories and business establishments. It is hoped that soon the overall situation will return to normal and the curfew will be lifted.Miscreants attacked Metrorail, BTV Building, Directorate of Health, Bridge Building, Expanded Immunization Program Office, Toll Plaza, Disaster Management Office, Data Center of Mahakhali, Mahakhali Corona Hospital, Nutrition Institute, Directorate of Health, Electricity Office, BRTA Building and police in different places of the countryThe box was set on fire and looted.Besides, many banks, shops, offices, public and private establishments were vandalized.

The miscreants stormed the prison at Narsingdi, looting, setting fire and evicting all the inmates. And just as the state takes responsibility for our security as citizens, we as citizens also have the responsibility to protect the resources of the country or the state. Under no circumstances should state property be damaged. Various existing laws of the country have considered those who destroy state property as criminals. Harmful or damage to the state property should be severely punished. And protecting the state property like any other property of the country is the duty of every citizen. Since it is a state asset, it is the right of the immense people of the country. This wealth is deposited with the people of the country. There is no way to spoil and waste it. Anyone who wastes and wastes it, will be involved in it in some way, everyone will be a partaker of the sin. The Holy Qur'an has repeatedly given instructions for the protection of deposits. Government assets are deposited with the people and officials.

A class of miscreants exploiting the movement to embarrass the government, wreak havoc and destroy valuable resources.

Quota issue is not today. Quota system was in operation since the independence of Bangladesh. In the country's government jobs from 1972 to 1976, 80 percent of quota, 20 percent of merit. After reforming from 1977 to 1985, quota was 60 percent and merit was 40 percent. From 1985 to 1918, 44 percent in quota, 56 percent in merit. But at this time it is seen that the quota is divided into different parts. Then freedom fighter quota 30, district quota 10, women quota 10, tribal and small ethnic group quota 5 and disabled quota 1 percent were distributed. In 2018, in the face of student agitation, the government brought partial reforms and issued circulars where quotas were removed for class I and II jobs. After that, the quota deprived people filed a writ in the high court against the circular issued by the government. After the hearing of that writ, in a judgment on June 5, 2024 this year, the court declared the judgment given in 2018 invalid, and the 56 percent quota came into force as before. After this verdict, common students are angry. Since then, anti-discrimination students called for agitation.

One thing is clear here that every government had quota system. Bangladesh has been independent for 54 years today. Some people of the country have enjoyed quota benefits for more or less these 54 years. But at a time when students have to compete in a global competition, how logical is this system? However, after many incidents across the country, the eyes of the entire nation were on the High Court verdict. Finally, on July 21 (2024), after presenting arguments from both sides, the full bench of the 7-member Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan unanimously canceled the previous verdict and announced a new verdict. The students welcomed the verdict by allocating 93 per cent merit quota, 5 per cent freedom fighter quota, 1 per cent quota for tribals and minority groups, 1 per cent quota for disabled and third genders. And two days after the announcement of the verdict, on July 23, the government issued a notification on the verdict. This is also a landmark step of the government. The issue of quota is a sensitive issue, so no government has bothered about it. Consider today, the father of the Bengali nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, sacrificed his life for this country with his family.

If desired, his descendants could live in absolute luxury at home or abroad without any work.But instead of doing that, Deshratna Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the father of the nation, took death in mind like her father, left her comfort abroad and returned to the country for the rights of the Bengali nation and ensured the people's right to vote by imprisoning her and she became the highest state power in the country. He has come this far not only because of his father, but for this he has had to make many sacrifices. Today, those who are descendants of freedom fighters should learn from the ideals of the Prime Minister. You will see that you can live a beautiful life with self-esteem and self-satisfaction. Still, I will say that the freedom fighters are part of the glory of the Bengali nation. Respecting them is a moral duty. Be that as it may, there is no way to support the violence in the country based on the quota system. It is truly inhumane that the miscreants have destroyed all the precious resources of the country. They are not human, they have behaved worse than animals. The people of the country want their punishment.

Finally, I would like to say that the manner in which the state assets have been attacked is not acceptable at all. The assets that have been destroyed are the assets of the people. These assets have been made with the tax money of common people like us. Those who destroyed this wealth also contributed to this wealth. So by wasting this wealth, all the people of the country have actually been harmed. On the one hand, the state wealth has been wasted, and on the other hand, many lives have been lost. Those who have lost their loved ones understand the pain of losing their loved ones. As a result of this violence, no one has benefited but everyone has suffered. So everyone should avoid violence and follow the path of peace. Ordinary people like me don't want any violence. We want to live in peace with family. We don't want any mother to empty her chest prematurely.

The most important thing now is to make the destroyed structures operational. and in the interest of future security to find out the miscreants and provide exemplary punishment. And like the ten investigation reports, it must be ensured that it is not lost.

Broadband facilities have already been launched in limited form. Maybe social media will be launched soon. Analyze social media content. From there it may be possible to identify the traitors. The government should also ensure that no innocent person is victimized. People will have demands and problems, there will be ways to solve them. But peace-loving people hope that such atrocities never happen again.

The writer is a columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman,Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.