Farhad Mazhar: Military-backed Regime is Undesirable

Poet and political analyst Farhad Mazhar posits that the army’s role in recent political events, including the fall of the Awami League government and the subsequent survival of the current government, cannot be overlooked. However, he asserts that the July-August uprising was unsuccessful.

Mazhar made these statements during a Friday roundtable discussion at the National Press Club.

He explained, “The uprising was successful because the soldiers refrained from firing upon the protesters.”

Mazhar further emphasized that the current government’s survival is contingent upon the army chief’s support. He stated, “If the army chief were to withdraw his support, the government would collapse swiftly. This support is based on his sound judgment.”

However, Mazhar clarified that he does not desire a “military-backed advisory government.”

Mazhar also highlighted the critical juncture in the recent events, stating, “In a democracy, the people are their rulers. Unfortunately, the mass uprising failed this time due to our lack of understanding of the relationship between law and politics.”

Mazhar criticized the interim government for taking oath at Bangabhaban on August 8. He argued, “We all participated in a mass uprising. There is no need to swear an oath in such a situation.”

Mazhar further expressed his disappointment with Muhammad Yunus’s actions, stating, “You could have honored the sacrifices of the martyrs by acknowledging that you came to power on their blood and vowed not to betray their memory. Instead, your actions at Bangabhaban betrayed their blood, and its consequences are evident now and will continue to manifest in the future.”