Interim government’s chief adviser Nobel Laureate professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday called for building new Bangladesh, saying that it was the responsibility of all to move ahead remembering the supreme sacrifice of Abu Sayeed and others.
‘This is our responsibility to build the new Bangladesh,’ he said after meeting with the family members of Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur who was killed in police firing during students’ quota reform movement on July 16.
In the morning, Yunus visited Abu Sayeed’s home at Babanpur village of Pirganj upazila in Rangpur to console his parents. He also offered ziarat at Abu Sayeed’s grave.
‘Abu Sayeed is not for only one family, he is the child of all families in Bangladesh,’ he said.
The chief adviser mentioned that the young folks, who were studying, would remember Abu Sayeed and pledge to be like him.
‘They will say – I will also fight for the justice like Abu Sayeed.’
He also said that Abu Sayeed was in every houses of the country then, adding that he was the child of everyone irrespective of religions and castes.
Yunus urged all to remain vigil against any anarchy and to be careful that none can talk anything against any religion.
‘Because we are the children of this soil, we all are Abu Sayeed.’
The chief adviser said that protecting all irrespective of their religions and castes was the responsibility of all.
‘We have to ensure this, and stand in front like Abu Sayeed.’
The Nobel Laureate requested all not to make division among the people of Bangladesh, adding, ‘We all are Bangladeshi, we are the children of Bangladesh.’
‘This Bangladesh is the Bangladesh of Abu Sayeed, there is no discrimination in this Bangladesh, my request to you all is to protect everyone, let not be any anarchy out there,’ he added.
The chief adviser also visited the injured victims of the quota reform movement at Rangpur Medical College Hospital on the same day.
During the visit, he inquired about the condition of the injured and gave necessary instructions to the hospital authorities for proper treatment of them.
Before coming to the hospital, Yunus went to Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur and exchanged views with the students there.
He called upon the students and people to ensure the protection of minority communities of the country, alleging that vested quarters were fuelling a ruckus through perpetrating attack on minorities.
‘You (students) have been able to save the country, aren’t you able to save the minority families. You have to say – none can harm them. They are my brothers, we fought together, and we will stay together’ he said.
He expressed his firm resolve that students would take the country to a new height.
Posts, telecommunications and information technology adviser Md Nahid Islam and youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan were present as they were accompanying the chief adviser during the Rangpur visit.
Abu Sayeed, a key coordinator of the quota reform movement at BRUR, led the protest from the front. He was an English department student of the university.
