Majority in Bangladesh feels oppressed due to mob justice: Samina Luthfa

Dr Samina Luthfa, Associate Professor of Sociology Department at Dhaka University (DU), stated that the three months following Sheikh Hasina’s departure from power felt like anarchical condition created by mob.

Moreover, she explained that the interim government members are attempting to implement reforms, but it is too early to comment on their success or failure; they need more time.

Dr Luthfa made these comments on Thursday (November 14) at a special seminar titled “July Uprising, Inclusion and Justice: Democratizing Public Sphere in Bangladesh” organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR) Trust at Lalmatia, Dhaka.

The sociology academic, clarified that the current government is not a revolutionary one. The students and the people did not carry out a revolution; they initiated an uprising.

However, the implementation of the people’s hopes and aspirations is crucial. The behavior of the Awami League government cannot be replicated. Currently, an adviser is acting like a former Awami League minister, which is something to be cautious about.

She also mentioned that most of the people in the government’s advisory council are connected to NGOs. She also noted that the armed forces remain a major player in the political scenario.

Luthfa further emphasized that during this time, not only minorities but also the majority have been victimized.

“Most people in the country now feel like victims. Some are victims because of their religion, some because of deprivation, some due to denial of justice, some for promotions, some for their hijab (head coverings conventionally worn by Muslim women), some for their attire, and some because of wearing vermilion (a mark of Hindu women’s identity), and so on.

Dr Luthfa also noted that there was effectively no government in the country from August 5–8. There needs to be an investigation into the failure to ensure the safety of the people during this period and afterward, as these issues have not been discussed but should be.

She further pointed out that democratic violence has occurred among people from various ideological backgrounds and social classes.

Regarding the effectiveness of student leadership in the movement, she explained that the absence or lack of specific leadership is often a strategic choice of the protesters.

In response to a question by BISR intern Rashed Anjum Niloy, asking whether one movement leads to the birth of another, the DU teacher replied that when a movement fails, it often gives rise to further movements.

The moderator of the special seminar, Dr Khurshed Alam, Chairman of the BISR Trust, claimed that the success of the July uprising was partly due to the role of ordinary supporters of the Awami League.

He believed that around 95% of the general Awami League supporters supported the movement. It was not only the agitators who had been protesting for revoking job-quota, who made the movement successful; general Awami League supporters’ participation turned it into a mass movement. Therefore, there is no room to ignore the general public at this point.

Prof Dr Bokhtiar Ahmed, Professor of Social Sciences and Humanities department at Independent University, Bangladesh, remarked that during the peak of the movement, even ordinary Awami League supporters showed solidarity online or on the streets.

He noted that some families were divided, with fathers and sons taking different sides. The youth, he pointed out, have shown how uncompromising one can be on issues of principle.

He emphasized the importance of unity, saying, “Why the discussion of unity is ongoing? Because there is lack of unity now. Everyone must come forward.”

Dr Bokhtiar further observed that under the previous government, there was no precedent for respecting or taking quick action on the demands of student and teacher movements.

He mentioned that until 1990, the ideals of establishing socialist justice served as an alternative ideological inspiration. However, now there is no alternative ideology, and society has turned into one based on imagination, and that has no alternative.

Researchers, teachers, and students from universities in both Bangladesh and abroad participated in the hybrid format of this special seminar.