Thursday, 19 September, 2024
Victims of political discrimination across various government and autonomous bodies over the past 15 years are urgently demanding justice and immediate reinstatement, without bureaucratic delays or obstacles
Senior citizens, victims of political discrimination, participated in the Shaheedi March against discrimination on Thursday in the city and shared their demands with THE BANGLADESH EXPRESS, their eyes brimming with tears.
These senior citizens had served various government organizations with honesty, sincerity, and dedication for many years. However, after the Awami League (AL) came to power, they faced severe harassment from AL-led management solely due to their differing political ideologies, ultimately leading to their illegal dismissal.
The Shaheedi March, marking one month since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was a powerful display of anti-discrimination sentiment. Thousands of students and senior citizens gathered in front of Shaheed Minar, their voices united in a call for justice.
Among the thousands of participants, several senior professional journalists, officials and technicians wept openly, while talking to the daily. Their tears a testament to the years of hardship and injustice they had endured.
From media outlets such as Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and BTV to research organizations like the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), numerous dedicated professionals were unlawfully dismissed without just cause during the AL regime, in clear violation of established rules and laws.
Many of these professionals were renowned for their honesty, sincerity and efficiency but were harassed and removed from their posts simply for holding different political views. For many, the hardship following their dismissal was severe—some lost their livelihoods, while others succumbed to illness or were forced to leave the country.
Despite their efficiency and dedication, these officials faced various forms of harassment, including transfers to remote areas, withholding of payments, allowances, and other entitled benefits, before being removed from their positions.
Following their dismissals, many endured severe hardships, with some losing their lives or being forced to leave the country.
“I was dismissed from BSS, the national news agency under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, without any valid reasons,” said a former senior journalist now working with a foreign news agency with his professional expertise. “They didn’t question my performance but transferred me to remote areas and harassed me in various ways, even when I was very ill.”
He also recounted the severe hardships he endured over the past 15 years while struggling to support his family and educate his children. “The current management, however, has assured us that they will take immediate action to ensure justice for us,” he said."
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), BSS unit, has called for the immediate reinstatement of their dismissed journalists. In a recent letter to the Managing Director and Chief Editor of BSS, they formally submitted their demands.
One of the dismissed officials, who worked for Bangladesh Television (BTV), voiced the collective plea of many, saying, “We are now enjoying our second freedom. The first gave us land, and this second freedom promises justice. We urge the new government to reinstate illegally dismissed officials immediately.”
A BIDS official added, “Justice delayed is justice denied. We call on the government to reinstate those illegally dismissed as soon as possible, bypassing bureaucratic processes.”
These dismissed officials and journalists, who had dedicated decades of their lives to working in various government organisations with integrity and diligence, were dismissed illegally after the Awami League (AL) came to power—targeted solely for their differing political views.
“Yet, their tears continue to fall on the land where a new revolution has begun, led by Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This revolution, driven by the Students Against Discrimination movement, forced AL leader Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country”, said Khorshed Alam, Secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).
He said the victims of discrimination should be reinstated immediately to suitable positions with dignity and full compensation for the suffering they’ve endured over the past 15 years. “We urge the government to reinstate those unlawfully dismissed without delay, bypassing bureaucratic obstacles”.
“Justice delayed is justice denied”, the union leader of the journalists said highlighting that some of the affected journalists are nearing retirement within a few months.
As Bangladesh enters a new era, the voices of the victims of political discrimination grow louder, demanding justice and the preservation of the freedoms for which so many have sacrificed.
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Victims of political discrimination across various government and autonomous bodies over the past 15 years are urgently demanding justice and immediate reinstatement, without bureaucratic delays or obstacles
Senior citizens, victims of political discrimination, participated in the Shaheedi March against discrimination on Thursday in the city and shared their demands with THE BANGLADESH EXPRESS, their eyes brimming with tears.
These senior citizens had served various government organizations with honesty, sincerity, and dedication for many years. However, after the Awami League (AL) came to power, they faced severe harassment from AL-led management solely due to their differing political ideologies, ultimately leading to their illegal dismissal.
The Shaheedi March, marking one month since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was a powerful display of anti-discrimination sentiment. Thousands of students and senior citizens gathered in front of Shaheed Minar, their voices united in a call for justice.
Among the thousands of participants, several senior professional journalists, officials and technicians wept openly, while talking to the daily. Their tears a testament to the years of hardship and injustice they had endured.
From media outlets such as Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and BTV to research organizations like the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), numerous dedicated professionals were unlawfully dismissed without just cause during the AL regime, in clear violation of established rules and laws.
Many of these professionals were renowned for their honesty, sincerity and efficiency but were harassed and removed from their posts simply for holding different political views. For many, the hardship following their dismissal was severe—some lost their livelihoods, while others succumbed to illness or were forced to leave the country.
Despite their efficiency and dedication, these officials faced various forms of harassment, including transfers to remote areas, withholding of payments, allowances, and other entitled benefits, before being removed from their positions.
Following their dismissals, many endured severe hardships, with some losing their lives or being forced to leave the country.
“I was dismissed from BSS, the national news agency under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, without any valid reasons,” said a former senior journalist now working with a foreign news agency with his professional expertise. “They didn’t question my performance but transferred me to remote areas and harassed me in various ways, even when I was very ill.”
He also recounted the severe hardships he endured over the past 15 years while struggling to support his family and educate his children. “The current management, however, has assured us that they will take immediate action to ensure justice for us,” he said."
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), BSS unit, has called for the immediate reinstatement of their dismissed journalists. In a recent letter to the Managing Director and Chief Editor of BSS, they formally submitted their demands.
One of the dismissed officials, who worked for Bangladesh Television (BTV), voiced the collective plea of many, saying, “We are now enjoying our second freedom. The first gave us land, and this second freedom promises justice. We urge the new government to reinstate illegally dismissed officials immediately.”
A BIDS official added, “Justice delayed is justice denied. We call on the government to reinstate those illegally dismissed as soon as possible, bypassing bureaucratic processes.”
These dismissed officials and journalists, who had dedicated decades of their lives to working in various government organisations with integrity and diligence, were dismissed illegally after the Awami League (AL) came to power—targeted solely for their differing political views.
“Yet, their tears continue to fall on the land where a new revolution has begun, led by Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This revolution, driven by the Students Against Discrimination movement, forced AL leader Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country”, said Khorshed Alam, Secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).
He said the victims of discrimination should be reinstated immediately to suitable positions with dignity and full compensation for the suffering they’ve endured over the past 15 years. “We urge the government to reinstate those unlawfully dismissed without delay, bypassing bureaucratic obstacles”.
“Justice delayed is justice denied”, the union leader of the journalists said highlighting that some of the affected journalists are nearing retirement within a few months.
As Bangladesh enters a new era, the voices of the victims of political discrimination grow louder, demanding justice and the preservation of the freedoms for which so many have sacrificed.
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