Some leftists, rightists gone crazy for govt roles: Mahfuj

Mahfuj Alam, a coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement and adviser in the interim cabinet without any portfolio, has accused certain left- and right-leaning leaders of spiraling into chaos over their inability to secure participation in the mass uprising and subsequent government roles. 

He claimed that their "madness, ‘revolutionary’ zeal, and provocative actions" are destabilising the nation.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mahfuj wrote, "By inciting conflict and pushing students into harm's way, these individuals are endangering the legitimacy of the movement. Those who stand to benefit from these provocations and administrative failures will eventually be exposed. We will reveal everything, or you will see it for yourselves."

He alleged that some allies in the movement to remove Sheikh Hasina have now taken on antagonistic roles, criticising their refusal to work collaboratively. "We acknowledge our shortcomings, but we are learning and striving to overcome them. However, stubbornness and unjust actions against students will only harm the nation," he warned.

Mahfuj emphasised the need for unity and claimed that attempts to create divisions among students and youth, provoke conflict, or derail the movement would fail. "We are moving towards unity, as we did on the morning of August 5. This time, the organizational unity we build will pave the way for lasting liberation, InshaAllah," he asserted.

Reflecting on history, Mahfuj pointed out the internal conflicts among freedom fighters in the decade following the Liberation War, which he argued were exploited by forces aiming to weaken Bangladesh. "While the freedom fighters made mistakes, history will one day show how these killings held the country back," he wrote.

Mahfuj labeled the current movement as a "people's movement" led by courageous students and youth. He accused domestic and foreign entities of attempting to discredit and divide the students over the last three months. "They have incited one group of youth against another, treated students with hostility rather than respect, and created unnecessary divisions. Such actions only benefit traitors and those with a servile mentality, not the people of this country," he concluded.