Adviser Mahfuz blames certain leaders, individuals for unrest, warns against incitement

Adviser Mahfuz Alam has accused certain left- and right-leaning leaders of destabilising the country through provocative actions and agitation.

Their frustration over failing to secure influence in the uprising and its aftermath has led to such behaviour, he said in a Facebook post on Monday without naming any of them.

The post, titled ‘Forces Against Mass Uprising, Youths and Students’, followed recent attempts to stir unrest across Dhaka and clashes involving college students. 

Reflecting on Bangladesh’s history, Alam wrote, “The first 10 to 15 years after the Liberation War were marked by freedom fighters turning against one another.

“Those who did not want Bangladesh to stand on solid ground orchestrated these conflicts.

“While mistakes were made by our freedom fighters, history will one day reveal how these killings held the nation back.” 

Alam, a former leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, described the recent protests as a people’s movement led by courageous students and youths.

However, he accused domestic and foreign opportunists of trying to derail it. 

“In the past three months, a group, along with opportunistic domestic and foreign establishments, vilified the students, created divisions among them using various student organisations, incited one group of youths against another, and treated students as adversaries instead of engaging with them respectfully,” Alam wrote. 

Questioning the outcomes of these actions, he said, “Foreign powers cannot subjugate the people of this country. But a few reckless individuals with a servile mindset have shown their ability to cause harm.

“Those who stand to benefit from pushing students into conflict and undermining their legitimacy through violence are complicit in this incitement and administrative failures.

“Slowly but surely, we will reveal everything—or you will see it for yourselves when you open your eyes.” 

Alam acknowledged that allies had also acted recklessly. “We admit our failures. We are learning from them and trying to overcome them.

“We will make further efforts to move forward together. But recklessness and unjust treatment of students will harm this nation,” he warned. 

The adviser vowed to thwart attempts to divide students and youth. “Recklessness, incitement, and efforts to turn uprising forces reactionary will be defeated, Inshallah,” he said. 

Calling for unity, Alam referenced the solidarity seen on Aug 5. “The organisational unity built this time will pave the way for lasting freedom, Inshallah,” he added.