Hasnat Abdullah: The country is now in a deep economic crisis

The country is currently facing a severe economic crisis, with Tk1,100,000 crore laundered over the past 16 years, said Hasnat Abdullah, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

He urged students to take a leading role in eradicating extortion, terrorism, bribery, corruption, recruitment scams, and tender manipulation.

He made these remarks while addressing the student community of Bandarban at a student-citizen exchange meeting held at the Bandarban Minority Cultural Institute's hall room around 11am on Wednesday.

Hasnat Abdullah emphasized that those who engage in extortion and tender manipulation for political gain must be rejected by the student body, and they should be expelled from the country just as previous fascist governments were overthrown.

He further added that students must work alongside the administration to end these practices.

“If the administration becomes people-oriented rather than power-oriented, individuals like Harun and Benazir will not need to flee the country,” he said.

Recalling the role of students in various movements, he highlighted their crucial involvement in the Liberation War of 1971, the anti-dictatorship movement in 1990, and most recently, the fight against the fascist Sheikh Hasina government in 2024.

He urged students to remain united after the formation of the state, just as they had been during the movement to overthrow the dictatorship.

"Freedom must be protected based on consensus," he added.

He also criticised past dictatorial governments for undermining constitutional institutions such as the judiciary, the legal system, and the Election Commission, stating that they had eroded public trust. “Our struggle will continue until we restore the people's trust in these institutions and reorganize the state.”

Referring to a recent unexpected incident at the Secretariat involving a DC appointment, Hasnat Abdullah mentioned that Abu Sayeed, Mughdo, and Hridoy had protested against the fascist regime and sacrificed their lives in the process.