University teachers, lawyers, judges, distinguished citizens, and journalists today urged the interim government to initiate reforms across all sectors, including amending the constitution, and to ensure justice for the crimes, genocide, looting, and torture committed by the Awami League over the past 16 years.The group also demanded the abolition of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the drafting of a new constitution, stating that the current constitution has failed to protect the rights of ordinary citizens and was manipulated by the Awami regime to maintain its dictatorship."The interim government must ensure justice for all wrongdoings, including the 2024 genocide, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, suppression, and torture carried out by the Awami regime over the last 16 years," they stated at a discussion titled "New Bangladesh, People's Expectations," held at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity and organized by Nabik (Nagarik Bikash o Kalyan).The group presented a five-point demand during the discussion, presided over by Nabik President Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan, with Vice President Burhan Uddin Faisal presenting the concept paper.The demands include the abolition of RAB for its human rights violations, radical reforms of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and police, strict prosecution of those linked to Awami fascism with confiscation of assets obtained through corruption, the drafting of a new people-friendly constitution, the appointment of judges committed to justice, and the repeal of all black laws, including the Cyber Security Act, to establish a just society."Appropriate measures must be taken to seize the black money and resources acquired by Awami leaders and their associates through corruption and looting, and these funds should be returned to the state treasury," the speakers emphasised."In the new Bangladesh, we do not want to see an internationally controversial force responsible for human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) should be abolished immediately," they added.They also called for a complete restructuring of the DGFI, giving it a new name and a focus on civil status and human rights, as the agency has been notorious for secret torture cells like 'Aynaghor' and for supporting dictatorial actions.Radical reforms to the police forces were also demanded, as the force has lost public trust due to its role in oppressing opposition and ordinary people during the student movement and throughout the Awami regime’s 16-year rule.Former judges present at the discussion urged the interim government to undertake significant judicial reforms to ensure true independence and to appoint qualified and law-abiding individuals as judges. They also called for the abolition of all black laws, such as the Cyber Security Act of 2023.The loyal judges of the Awami regime were accused of playing a heinous role in suppressing the recent student uprising and oppressing countless citizens over the past decade, while the High Court failed to protect the fundamental and democratic rights of the people.The discussion included contributions from Tahmid Muddassir Chowdhury, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; Dr. Mozaherul Haque, former advisor to the World Health Organization in Southeast Asia; Nur Khan Liton, lawyer and human rights activist; Golam Rabbani, professor at Jahangirnagar University; Colonel (Retd) Mohammad Abdul Hoque, security analyst; Barrister Mustasim Tanzir, Supreme Court lawyer; and Maruf Hossain, architect, among others.Source: BSS