We can't celebrate yet. Not until there is justice for our brothers who have been killed. Sheikh Hasina's resignation was, of course, a must. But for all the deaths that happened, there must be thorough investigations into the role of the administration, party activists, Chhatra League and others. Once that has been achieved, then we can finally celebrate.

We do not know who will come to power next, but the army is likely to take over in the immediate future. We hope whoever it is, they will take prompt and proper actions to deliver justice for the killings. Those who have been unjustly detained must be unconditionally released.

I don't think there is any country in the world where the government has tried to stay in power by raising its hand on its own students so many times like this. Students are a nation's assets. Students have a special place in people's hearts. This regime didn't just kill one or two students. According to newspaper reports, it killed more than 300—even though we believe the number is higher. Many ordinary citizens have also been killed. It is because this regime killed so many students that people have come out flooding the streets to lend their support. if you look around, you will see thousands and thousands of ordinary people around you—there are no political parties here. Why is that? They are here to support those who have been killed, the students, who are our brothers and sisters. 

No government in the world, I believe, can stay in power by killing its own students. And we have proved that here in Bangladesh.

A university student

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A new dawn rises on Bangladesh

The prime minister had no other alternative but to resign. After creating the situation that she and her party did, how could she speak of finding a compromise? Everything had gone out of control by the time she was willing to listen to the students. So, resigning was the best decision for her. 

All these people have gathered together for independence. A government that shoots at its own people is not wanted by anyone.

A BRAC university student

We are very happy right now for achieving this independence. We achieved thjis victory in return for our blood. Now, we want to celebrate it fully and with everyone. 

Now, we need to ensure that the perpetrators of the killings are held to account, alongside those who gave the orders. Even if they manage to flee the country, they should be brought back and tried properly, so that no one ever dares to commit such crimes again.

A university student

We want thorough investigations into all the killings. Even if any of them were committed by the army, it has to investigate them also. My point is, no one who fired at students and ordinary people should be spared. As a student of Dhaka University, what some law enforcers did in our university over the past few weeks is unacceptable. What the vice chancellor and other responsible persons did must be looked into as well.

Even today, when we went to the campus, people fired at us. Who were involved in these shootings? Do we not deserve to know as students of that university, who were shooting at us in our own campus? Whoever comes to power next, they should know by now the power of Bangladesh's students and its people. So, if they do not investigate these incidents, we will once again unite.

A Dhaka University student

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New student politics demands respect, dignity, and trust

The students' initial one-point demand of quota reform than turned into a one-point demand for Sheikh Hasina's resignation. It turned into a movement to bring back democracy. How could she get away with carrying our mass murders so she could stay in Gono Bhaban? I held back my child from joining the protests before, but not today. We've been here since the morning and we won't leave until she resigns. We've seen a lot of bloodshed; we will not accept any more of it.

Nipa
Housewife from Lalbagh

I am here observing the mob. I am really happy. the students achieved a lot, they have done the hard work of bringing us here. We love our country and we want to save it. The students should work towards establishing peace in the country where no one is suppressed.

Syed Afzalul Karim
Dermatologist

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A walk through free (?) Dhaka

Whatever happens, it has to be done through a peaceful, amicable way and we do not want any military intervention in this whole process. The transition has to be done with the leadership of the students, and with constructive consultation with political parties, civil society, and other actions in the movement.

Dr Samina Luthfa
Associate professor, Sociology
Dhaka University

The BNP boycotted the upazila elections for five reasons, chief among which is its belief that the ruling party will control the polls, said party insiders.

Initially, the party thought that it would go soft on its leaders running as independents but decided against it because of the reasons.

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BNP opts out of 'farcical' upazila polls

The upazila election would be held in the national election model and that was why the ruling party did not nominate anyone for chairman posts, the insiders said, adding that just like the national polls some "ruling party independents" will run to make the polls appear competitive.

"None will be elected without the government's signal. If we join the polls, it will give nothing but legitimacy to the election," said a senior BNP leader.

Secondly, the BNP believes joining the upazila polls would be a betrayal to the people who boycotted the national polls responding to the party's call just a few months ago.

"The BNP cannot ask the people now to go to the polling centre.... It may hurt the sentiments of the people," a senior leader said.

Thirdly, if the BNP stays away from the polls, turnout would be poor -- sending a message across the nation and abroad that without the party's participation, polls will be lopsided and unacceptable.

Fourthly, the BNP does not want to be in the middle of infighting or violence between Awami League grassroots leaders.

And lastly, the BNP's like-minded parties boycotted the national polls with it and the party does not want to offend its allies.

"All the like-minded political parties are against joining the election. So, we must respect their views too," said a standing committee member, adding that this was why Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami tried to ensure none of its leaders ran.

Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, a standing committee member of the party, said the party earlier decided not to join any election held under this regime.

"Tens of thousands of BNP leaders and activists are facing cases and more than 27,000 party men were sent to jail over the January 7 parliamentary polls. Amid such a situation, we don't want to run into further trouble by joining the polls," he said.

However, some party leaders are hellbent on running as independents despite the BNP's warnings of punitive actions.

BNP leaders believe that those who hold posts in the party would surely withdraw from the polls race.

According to the party's central office, 49 leaders submitted nomination forms and around 35 leaders are still in the race.

"Some have withdrawn and some others have promised to withdraw," Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary general of the party, said.

The BNP has already sent a message to the candidates that those who will not follow the party instructions will have to face the music.

Sources said most of the BNP leaders running don't hold any party posts.

BNP reshuffled its central executive committee yesterday, a day after dissolving some city units over their failure to make the anti-government movement a success.

A total of 39 party leaders got new positions.

This sudden reshuffle has caused commotion within the party as acting chairman Tarique Rahman is restructuring the committees, keeping the senior leaders in the dark, BNP insiders said.

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BNP revamping party, wings

They said the issue was not discussed at the meetings of the standing committee, the party's highest policymaking body.

According to the party charter, the acting chairperson will discharge all the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the latter.

And Tarique is now invoking that provision, said party sources.

The BNP charter gives the chairperson the authority to scrap any committee anytime, and the decision would be approved at the subsequent council.

The reshuffle brought younger leaders to important positions, while those with strong organisational abilities have been made advisers to the chairperson, BNP insiders said.

Some leaders who were selected for advisory roles believe they were assigned these positions as a form of punishment.

Apart from the executive body, BNP's international affairs committee has also been restructured. Party sources said the move was made because of the previous committee's failure to maintain close ties with the western countries, China and India.

BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan will basically lead the committee to strengthen the relationship with those nations. However, Tarique is the chairman of the committee.

Soon after the January 7 national election, Tarique started working on restructuring the party's executive committee. There will be significant changes in the full committee in phases, with the introduction of new members, said a BNP leader familiar with the issue.

"Young leaders loyal to Tarique Rahman will be given important positions," said a senior BNP leader wishing not to be named.

A number of mid-ranking influential BNP leaders said Tarique is in fact  building his own circle by restructuring the committees to establish his absolute control over the party.

"He is doing this to make sure nobody challenges his decisions in future," said a BNP leader.

Many committees have already expired since the party held its last national council in 2017.

The BNP constitution stipulates that a council should be held every three years. However, restructuring of its committees are being announced through press releases.

"The issue of reorganising was discussed at the party forum, but we were not informed when and how it would happen," a senior leader told The Daily Star yesterday wishing anonymity.

Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, a standing committee member, said the decision on revamping the party was made earlier and is now being put into action.

On Thursday night, BNP dissolved the convening committees of its Dhaka south and north city units. It also announced dissolution of the convening committees of its Chattogram and Barishal city units.

The central committee of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, led by President Sultan Salahuddin Tuku and General Secretary Abdul Monayem Munna, has also been dissolved.

Some BNP leaders, including Zahir Uddin Swapan, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, have been made adviser to the party chairperson.

Some party leaders said Swapan, Khokon, Sarwar and Alal have been punished through these appointments.

Syed Emran Saleh Prince and Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie have been promoted to joint secretaries general from organising secretaries.

Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP's student front, announced its full-fledged 260-member committee yesterday, about three and a half months after the formation of its partial committee.

Rakibul Islam Rakib and Nasir Uddin Nasir have been made president and general secretary of the new committee respectively.

As many as 41 leaders have been given the posts of vice president, one has been made senior joint general secretary, and 111 have been named as joint general secretaries.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday termed the proposed national budget "anti-Bangladesh", saying it contains new schemes to facilitate the embezzlement of public money by the ruling party-backed looters.

"The government has become looters. The budget crafted by these looters seems to be aimed at further indulging in plundering. I believe that fresh plans have been devised in the budget for embezzlement (of public money)," he said.

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Budget falls short of what was needed

Talking to reporters on the budget in front of the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, Fakhrul also said the worst aspect of the proposed budget is the lack of any direction towards new job creation.

"The entire budget seems to be formulated for mega projects, mega theft, and corruption. So, I not only call this so-called budget anti-people but also anti-Bangladesh," he observed.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali placed a Tk 7,97,000 crore proposed national budget for 2024-25 in parliament.

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Budget unlikely to make dent in soaring inflation

Giving his party's initial reaction to the budget, Fakhrul said the proposed expenditure is much higher than the revenue collection target.

He warned that this imbalance will only intensify public suffering and increase their burden.

The BNP leader also feared that the government will cut public pockets to meet its expenditures.

Besides, he said the government will take loans or grant from abroad as well as from local banks to bridge the gap between expenditures and revenue earnings.

"In the end, it will be the people who bear the consequences. They are already grappling with the burden of unbearable increases in the prices of commodities, fuel, and utility services, including power," Fakhrul said.

He said the government plans to further increase the prices of utility services in the near future, leaving the country's people in a precarious situation. "Many individuals are returning to rural areas, leaving cities struggling to sustain their livelihoods."

Fakhrul said the government has no focus on resolving the problems faced by the people amidst the gradual increase in inflation.

About the provision for whitening black money with a payment of 15 percent tax, he said it is unjust to those who earn money through legal means.

Referring to recent media reports on the alleged corruption involving former IGP Benazir Ahmed and former army chief Aziz Ahmed, Fakhrul questioned how government officials could accumulate such vast amounts of wealth.

The BNP leader also said the budget was presented in a parliament where all MPs, elected through what he referred to as a "dummy election," are affiliated with the ruling party, even though they are seated separately on both the treasury and opposition benches.

He also alleged that burning issues concerning public interests are now cannot be discussed in parliament, as the ruling party MPs only like to engage in praising the government.

Fakhrul also mentioned an instance where an MP attempted to initiate a discussion on the corruption allegations against Benazir but was interrupted and stopped.