There was severe negative campaign about Bangladesh abroad centring the quota reform movement, with much misinformation circulating, partly due to the government’s decision to shut down the internet, believes Dr AK Abdul Momen, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former foreign minister. He thinks that this decision was wrong and has led to increased suspicion and the spread of rumours.
In an interview with Jago News, AK Abdul Momen addressed various concerns, including those raised by European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell about the casualties and arrests linked to the quota reform movement.
Jago News: Joseph Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, in a statement expressed deep concern over the casualties and arrests related to the quota reform movement, calling for a thorough investigation and justice. This was reportedly discussed with you at a meeting in Laos. What was the conversation like?
AK Abdul Momen: Joseph Borrell is an old friend of mine. We talked at the ASEAN conference in Laos, where he expressed two concerns. First, he was alarmed by the number of deaths during the student movement over a relatively small issue like quotas. I told him that just like the students, the government also wants quota reform. However, during a court hearing on the matter, several people lost their lives. I’m not sure who was responsible for the killings—whether it was the police or someone else. He wondered why so many people died, and I told him we would investigate to determine the exact number and cause of deaths.
His second concern was about the idea of 'shoot at sight,' which he found troubling in a democratic country like Bangladesh. I assured him that this was not our standard practice, and there were no such orders to kill. Pakistanis had killed people in such manner. Borrell also mentioned the need to be cautious about arresting and harassing people without evidence. We had a good conversation.
Jago News: A day after Borrell’s statement, the EU has suspended negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh. What is your take on this?
AK Abdul Momen: Yes, I saw on the media that the EU has paused discussions for now. Western countries are now increasingly focusing on the Asia Pacific region and also want to maintain good relations with Bangladesh. They want to include us in their good books. When I was in Brussels, I signed an agreement where they committed several million dollars to fostering good relations with us.
Unfortunately, the quota reform movement has been negatively portrayed abroad, with much of the information being misleading or false. The decision to shut down the internet contributed to this, allowing negative narratives to spread unchecked. People outside couldn’t see the truth because of the shutdown. Rumors like ‘the leader has fled’ and ‘meetings in Delhi’ gained traction, all exacerbated by the internet blackout. Malicious actors took advantage of the situation, spreading misinformation through various means, including fabricated stories and even door-to-door propaganda.
Jago News: Do you think that keeping the internet active could have prevented this negative campaign?
AK Abdul Momen: Of course. I believe keeping the internet on would have been beneficial, it was wrong to shut it down. My personal opinion is hiding something nowadays only fuel suspicions and rumours. The EU's suspension of negotiations might be temporary, and we don’t need to be worried. The thing we really need is a proper investigation into why so many people died. I think we can revisit the rules of engagement for security processes.
Another crucial step we need to take is addressing the mindset of destroying the country's resources unnecessarily. This should be instilled through school and college textbooks. In various universities across America, including Columbia and Oxford, we’ve seen movements where police used extreme measures, like pepper spray, but avoided lethal force. However, in our country, the response is often to either watch from a distance or resort to shooting. This approach needs to change.
Jago News: You shared a video and on its caption you questioned who fired the shots that led to a protester’s death, as police were absent at the time. You also questioned the identity of the shooter. Can you elaborate?
AK Abdul Momen: A follower of mine sent me the video, and it really struck me. The police were retreating, yet the protesters were still throwing bricks. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and someone fell. This makes me suspect that a third party may have been involved. I doubt that all the deaths were caused by the police alone.