In a seminar titled "Our Map: Our Freedom" held at the RC Majumdar auditorium of Dhaka University, Farhad Mazhar asserted that the recent mass uprising in Bangladesh had failed. He characterized the interim government as a "military-backed advisory government."
Speakers at the seminar included poet and intellectual Farhad Mazhar, Vice- Chancellor of Manarat International University Professor Dr. Abdur Rob, military analyst Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Haq, and Professor Dr. Sayma Ferdous of Dhaka University`s International Business Department.
In his speech, Farhad Mazhar analyzed the failure of the mass uprising, the nature of the advisory government, and the political aspects of literature. He expressed concerns about the interaction between the Chief Adviser and Joe Biden, as well as the military`s support for the government. Mazhar believes that the primary function of literature is to unite people and build relationships.
According to him, the mass uprising ultimately failed. Since the government was sworn in under a fascist constitution, this advisory government is an integral part of Sheikh Hasina`s state, and they have sworn to protect this constitution.
Regarding the Chief Adviser`s recent foreign visits, he said, "Dr. Yunus had no need to go abroad. He should have gone to the people, not to Joe Biden. What is the problem with going to Joe Biden? Joe Biden is known as Genocide Joe in America. The young people in the United States who are fighting for the Palestinian people on the streets are facing various kinds of attacks and threats; to them, Joe Biden is known as Genocide Joe."
He argued that there is no problem with the Chief Adviser going to meet Joe Biden. As a weak country, it is not a problem for him to go there and shake hands diplomatically. "But when Joe Biden kisses him and presents him as his favorite person, it sends a deadly message."
"When he went there, Wakar Uzzaman, our army chief, said, `We support this government.` Did anyone ask us? Maybe he is saying it simply, but the message it conveys is that you have got a military- backed advisory government. If the soldiers or the military institution do not support this government, then this government will collapse at any moment, because it has no legal validity," he added.
Farhad Mazhar views literature as a powerful tool that can play a significant role in social change.
He dismisses the common understanding of literature, or "literature," as a colonial concept. According to him, the essence of literature or its political significance lies in "sahit" (meaning companionship or relationship). "Literature is the practice of connecting with others, creating relationships. The urge to create relationships with others is expressed in literature."
He believes that literature forms the basis of our political consciousness. "If it rains in Meghalaya or Tripura today, we have floods here. This path of jointly managing, confronting, and resolving natural resources is literature. If I cannot relate to the people of Tripura, if I cannot make them understand that if you release that dam without letting me prepare, or if we cannot all take a measure together, then everyone will suffer," he said.
"Why can`t we go to this place? Modern nationalism. There are two types of nationalism, one that we know as Bengali nationalism in modern times. Before that, there was Muslim nationalism on the basis of which we got Pakistan. It is not entirely negative. But any identity-based claim that says I am the only one who is correct, you have to accept me. If you don`t accept me, then it is justified for me to attack you. This is the basis of fascism," he added.
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