Hasnat’s 'Okay' to old Asif Nazrul post sparks debate on elite privilege

Hasnat Abdullah’s quiet nod to a 5-year-old post by the law advisor has sparked renewed debate, as the issue of officials seeking treatment abroad returns to public discussion

The post, which proposes strict laws for government elites, has gone viral and sparked widespread discussion on social media.

The original post, published by Nazrul on Jul 12, 2020, highlighted irregularities among government officials, including seeking medical treatment abroad, and suggested tough restrictions. He wrote, “I would make a law if I had the power.”

Hasnat shared the post on Tuesday at 3:54pm, bringing it back into the spotlight. It remains unclear in what context he chose to share it, and he has not commented on the matter.

Hasnat shared the post on the same day when Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain told journalists at the secretariat that sending “cancer-stricken” Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum abroad for treatment should be considered from a “humanitarian perspective”.

Nurjahan travelled to Singapore for treatment on Monday night and is expected to return on Wednesday.

Hasnat and Asif Mahmud were both at the forefront of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement that led protests against the Awami League government.

By 1:30am on Tuesday night, before this report was compiled, Hasnat’s post had been shared 8,300 times and received 198,000 reactions.

In his old post, Nazrul proposed strict restrictions on those in power seeking medical treatment abroad. He wrote, “If I had the power, I would make a law -- current or former presidents, prime ministers, and ministers would not be allowed to travel abroad for treatment. Their children would not be allowed to hold any government-related jobs, power, or business. They must use public transport at least one day a week.

“They would not be allowed to stop another vehicle while travelling on the road. For overseas travel, they cannot take any companion except for urgent reasons, and parliament must be informed about this.”

He also said, “They would be completely banned from using their names when inaugurating anything funded by public money or helping the public. They would be forbidden from being called ‘Honourable’ or ‘Respected’. They and their families would have to disclose all their domestic and foreign properties and incomes to the public.

“An independent unit of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) would be dedicated solely to monitoring them. I would impose many more rules in other areas as well. I would make life hell for those who are thieves, robbers, or criminals.”

Hasnat’s viral post has attracted 27,000 comments, with a variety of reactions. Some wrote “Oh Allah” while others sarcastically commented, “What a beautiful thought. If this honest man had become our law minister, the country would have changed.”

Another commented, “If I were the health advisor, I would never seek treatment abroad.”

Attempts to reach Advisor Nazrul or NCP leader Hasnat were unsuccessful.