Without the November 7 Soldiers-People's Revolution, We Would Have Lost Our Sovereignty: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed MP remarked that had the Soldiers-People's Revolution of November 7, 1975 not taken place, we would have lost the sovereignty of independent Bangladesh. He made these comments today, Saturday, while attending the first session of the ‘Democratic Journey Seminar Series’ held at the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum.

He stated, ‘The 1972 Constitution offered more opportunities than crises. However, due to the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's thirst for power, those opportunities were squandered.’

He further added, ‘Just as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formed BAKSAL, his daughter Sheikh Hasina followed in her father's footsteps to form BAKSAL-2.’

Referring to the July Charter, the Home Minister said, ‘The July Charter had no legal basis, but a political consensus is no less significant than a legal foundation. The aspiration of the July Uprising is not merely constitutional reform; rather, building state institutions alongside ensuring accountability is even more crucial.’

Asif Nazrul, former law advisor to the interim government, also took part in the discussion titled ‘Post-Independence Constitutional Crisis of Bangladesh and BAKSAL’ during the first session of the ‘Democratic Journey Seminar Series’ organized by the July Museum.

Asif Nazrul said, ‘By removing several draconian laws, the 1972 Constitution could have become a wonderful constitution. However, within just a year, during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's tenure, those draconian laws were reinstated through the Second Amendment.’

He added, ‘BAKSAL was not merely single-party rule; rather, it was established to institute the rule of a single individual.’

Firoz Ahmed, a former member of the Constitution Reform Commission, and Supreme Court Lawyer Habibur Rahman were present as discussants at the seminar. Firoz Ahmed noted, ‘The Awami League was not a generator of capital; rather, it was a plunderer of capital. In time, the state itself began practicing this grassroots socio-political reality, which ultimately resulted in BAKSAL.’

Discussant Lawyer Habibur Rahman stated, ‘A constitution never creates authoritarianism; rather, it is the intent of the person in power that creates it. Otherwise, there would have been no need for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to form BAKSAL after the 1972 Constitution.’

In his presidential address, Ehasan Mahamud, Director General of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, said, ‘The July Museum will continue to organize intellectual and cultural events in pursuit of democratic practice.’

Teachers, researchers, lawyers, students from various universities, and representatives of civil society attended the first session of the ‘Democratic Journey Seminar Series.’ The subsequent sessions of the seminar series will be held consecutively.