Saturday, 12 July, 2025
Poet, philosopher, and political thinker Farhad Mazhar claimed on Saturday that the current interim government is an elected one and argued that Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution is, in fact, Pakistan’s Constitution.
Speaking as the chief discussant at a seminar titled "The Role of Youth in Post-July Revolution Bangladesh" at the Jashore Shilpakala Academy, he also criticized the BNP, saying: “Their downfall began the moment they stopped listening to us.”
"He was elected with blood," he said, highlighting the sacrifices made by figures like Abu Sayeed of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur and many others. “Which is more important—votes or blood?”
He further suggested that the current government should be recognized as "more than elected," if such a classification were possible.
Mazhar was scathing in his critique of the 1972 Constitution, arguing that it was never truly the people’s constitution of Bangladesh.
"The 1972 Constitution was Pakistan’s Constitution. It was designed to hand Bangladesh over to Delhi," he claimed.
According to Mazhar, Bangladesh did not experience a revolution in 1971 but merely achieved independence. He accused Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of failing to fulfill the people’s aspirations after independence and criticized the lack of a Constituent Assembly vote, which he described as a vital step in state formation.
"For state formation, a Constituent Assembly vote is the recognized procedure," he said.
Mazhar argued that the individuals who drafted the 1972 Constitution were originally elected to frame Pakistan’s constitution—a fact that, in his view, invalidates its legitimacy as Bangladesh’s own.
(It is worth noting that the Constituent Assembly responsible for drafting the 1972 Constitution was formed by the winners of the 1970 election in East Pakistan, which was originally held as a constituent assembly election for Pakistan.)
Reflecting on the role of youth in shaping the nation’s future, Mazhar dismissed reform efforts, saying: “There is no such thing as reform. We couldn’t even create our own constitution.”
He warned that without a second phase of independence—one that involves actual state formation—Bangladesh could fall behind by another 50 years.
Mazhar also expressed support for students' demand for a Constituent Assembly vote, calling it a justified demand.
"As long as we have breath, we will stand with these young ones," he declared.
He further emphasized the need for public awareness, vowing, “We will continue to awaken the people.”
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Poet, philosopher, and political thinker Farhad Mazhar claimed on Saturday that the current interim government is an elected one and argued that Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution is, in fact, Pakistan’s Constitution.
Speaking as the chief discussant at a seminar titled "The Role of Youth in Post-July Revolution Bangladesh" at the Jashore Shilpakala Academy, he also criticized the BNP, saying: “Their downfall began the moment they stopped listening to us.”
"He was elected with blood," he said, highlighting the sacrifices made by figures like Abu Sayeed of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur and many others. “Which is more important—votes or blood?”
He further suggested that the current government should be recognized as "more than elected," if such a classification were possible.
Mazhar was scathing in his critique of the 1972 Constitution, arguing that it was never truly the people’s constitution of Bangladesh.
"The 1972 Constitution was Pakistan’s Constitution. It was designed to hand Bangladesh over to Delhi," he claimed.
According to Mazhar, Bangladesh did not experience a revolution in 1971 but merely achieved independence. He accused Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of failing to fulfill the people’s aspirations after independence and criticized the lack of a Constituent Assembly vote, which he described as a vital step in state formation.
"For state formation, a Constituent Assembly vote is the recognized procedure," he said.
Mazhar argued that the individuals who drafted the 1972 Constitution were originally elected to frame Pakistan’s constitution—a fact that, in his view, invalidates its legitimacy as Bangladesh’s own.
(It is worth noting that the Constituent Assembly responsible for drafting the 1972 Constitution was formed by the winners of the 1970 election in East Pakistan, which was originally held as a constituent assembly election for Pakistan.)
Reflecting on the role of youth in shaping the nation’s future, Mazhar dismissed reform efforts, saying: “There is no such thing as reform. We couldn’t even create our own constitution.”
He warned that without a second phase of independence—one that involves actual state formation—Bangladesh could fall behind by another 50 years.
Mazhar also expressed support for students' demand for a Constituent Assembly vote, calling it a justified demand.
"As long as we have breath, we will stand with these young ones," he declared.
He further emphasized the need for public awareness, vowing, “We will continue to awaken the people.”
Comments
