Dhaka: Former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Abdul Kader has asserted that there was a connection established with BNP’s then Acting Chairman and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman through Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. This connection was reportedly made before the announcement of the one-point demand during the July Uprising.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Kader made these claims in a detailed Facebook post titled “The Untold History Behind the Historic One-Point Demand.” In his post, he outlined several developments leading up to the announcement, indicating that he had engaged in discussions with various stakeholders before deciding to proceed with the one-point demand. As part of this process, he reached out to Chhatra Dal leaders Rakibul Islam Rakib and Nasir Uddin Nasir.
Kader stated that upon learning about the proposed one-point demand, Nasir expressed his intention to discuss the matter with Tarique Rahman, referring to him as “Chairman Sir.” Later that evening, Nasir reportedly informed Kader that the situation was appropriate for announcing the one-point demand, having received affirmation from Rahman.
Kader also mentioned that representatives from Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir discussed the proposal within their organizations and provided positive feedback. This led to the preparation and finalization of the declaration. He emphasized the importance of making the announcement swiftly due to the situation on the ground, ongoing violence, and potential for further loss of life.
In his post, Kader acknowledged that there were discussions and differing opinions among coordinators prior to the announcement. However, he maintained that his goal was to make a prompt decision based on the evolving circumstances. He further stated that while discussions were held with various individuals and political groups, the decision to proceed with the one-point demand was not made under pressure or directives from any specific political party.
These assertions remain Abdul Kader’s personal claims as expressed in his Facebook post.