Farhad Mazhar unhappy about govt at less than “full power’

He says the interim government has not delivered on the hopes sparked by the July Uprising

Writer and political philosopher Farhad Mazhar says the interim government has failed to meet the expectations of a spirited mass after the fall of the Awami League regime in the July Uprising.

Speaking during a human chain demonstration in front of the National Press Club on Friday morning, he said: "After the July Movement, we had high hopes, but the government has not delivered."

"We did not get a government at full power we needed after the July Uprising. As a result, we have failed in both policy-making and in delivering the movement’s benefits to the people."

After the fall of the Awami League government in August, an interim government took charge headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor.

Farhad said, "We want to tell Yunus that we understand his limitations and those of Bangladesh’s politics. We fully support him. However, there are specific actions he must begin immediately. Delaying is not an option."

At the gathering, which was organised to demand free access to safe drinking water for the poor and working-class people, he said: "In a river-based country, water resources form the foundation of economic development. The new development policies of Bangladesh must prioritise rivers. The water belongs to the people, no one has exclusive rights to this resource."

Demanding the government provide free drinkable water to the public, Farhad said: "We will support the government in ensuring that Dhaka’s residents have access to drinking water without charge. People in the city have a right to drink water."

"Those who waste drinking water should face criminal charges."

He also called for the immediate establishment of a Water Commission, saying: "We must guarantee access to safe drinking water. By providing it, the government must prove they are not under the influence of any autocratic ideology."

Addressing religious political parties, he said: "Those who keep bringing up religion in everything would be advocating for safe drinking water if they actually followed the Islamic political principles."

"A government that leases water rights to companies is not welcome in our country."

He called for punishing those who pollute water under the Criminal Penal Code, and for ending the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture and fisheries.