The country's political leaders have expressed mixed reaction over the announcement of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement to 'bury' (nullify) the constitution of 1972 and unveil its Proclamation of the July Movement.
Most of the political parties including BNP are not in favor of any move to nullify the 1972 constitution. They feel country's constitution passed by parliament after the liberation of Bangladesh can not be buried, instead it can be amended.
The interim government claimed that it is a personal initiative of the students. The government has no connection with the Proclamation of the July Revolution.
On Sunday, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement declared that they will 'bury' in grave today (December 31) the constitution of 1972 which they termed it as "Mujibist" constitution with the proclamation of the July Revolution.
Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Sunday said at a press conference that, "We want the 'Mujibist' constitution to be buried." He added, at the Central Shaheed Minar from where their one-point movement was declared, the grave of the 'Mujibist' 1972 Constitution will be made with their Proclamation of the July Revolution.
"We hope Nazi-like Awami League would be declared irrelevant in Bangladesh through the Proclamation," he asserted.
Sarjis Alam, former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and current chief organiser of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said, "We have crossed only the first phase of the July Revolution. The July Revolution Proclamation should have been announced much earlier."
He said, "We believe that the way the Revolution united all anti-fascist forces, this Proclamation will hold the hopes and aspirations of everyone."
In response of these comments BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas on Sunday said, "The constitution was written in 1972 at the cost of the blood of 30 lakh martyrs. It is not a rough draft that can simply be discarded, but anything bad in the constitution can be amended."
"It hurts us when anyone speaks against the 1972 constitution," he asserted.
Member of Central Executive Council of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Secretary of Central Publicity Department Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand told the Daily Observe that, "Jamaat will make comment about it after the Proclamation of the July Revolution is made public."
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna told the Daily Observer that, the students are in favor of changing the constitution. We think everyone will vote in favor of the amendment of the constitution instead of changing it.
Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Zonayed Saki told the Daily Observer, "Acceptance of the 'Proclamation of the July Revolution' will depend on the acceptance of people of the country."
Saki said, Ganosamhati Andolon will hold a meeting regarding the Proclamation of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. In this meeting they will take decision about it.
Interim Government's Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday told media in front of the state guest house Jamuna, "The government has no involvement in the initiative to proclaim the July mass uprising as a Revolution led by Students Against Discrimination."
He said, "This is a private initiative. We are treating it as a private matter. It is not related to the government, and there is no involvement of the government."
