At Constitution Day Discussion, Kamal Hossain Says Work of Protecting Rights Is Not Finished; Calls for Independent Judiciary and Fair Elections

The work of protecting people's rights is not yet finished, Gono Forum emeritus president Kamal Hossain has said. “An independent judiciary, fair elections and freedom of expression must be ensured in the country. No discrimination can be allowed on grounds of religion, group, gender, caste or political identity,” he said.

He made the remarks in a written speech as chief guest at a discussion organised for Constitution Day 2026. The event, titled ‘Human Rights, Democracy, an Independent Judiciary and the Principles of the 1972 Constitution’, was held on Tuesday (November 3) at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium and organised by the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samity.

Kamal Hossain's written speech was read out on his behalf by the organisation's publicity secretary Sanjid Rahman Shuvo.

In the written speech, Kamal Hossain said: “Bangladesh's constitution is the fruit of the nation's struggle. Through the Liberation War, the people of this country dreamed of establishing an exploitation-free and democratic state.”

He recalled that the 1972 constitution adopted nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism as the four fundamental principles of the state, and that the people are the owners of all power of the republic. His call was: ‘Let us all together build a democratic and discrimination-free Bangladesh.’

The discussion was chaired by Bangladesh Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samity president Subrata Chowdhury. He said: “Passing through many ups and downs, most recently through the July mass uprising, the country has reached a stage.” He urged the government not to divide the nation any further now.

Subrata Chowdhury said: “We must hold on to the spirit of the Liberation War, the 1990 mass uprising and the July mass uprising. One of the goals of the July uprising was to build a discrimination-free and humane state.” He also called for not straying from that goal.

He alleged: “At the field level, the opposition wants to erase the history of the Liberation War and bring back the Chhatra League.”

Criticising former interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus's remark about ‘resetting Bangladesh’, Subrata Chowdhury said: “Through that, the history of 1952, 1962, 1969, 1971 and 1990 was said to be cancelled. At that time mob rule and fundamentalism rose in the country, whose effects people are still suffering.”

Mentioning weaknesses of the government in various areas, he said: “If fundamentalist groups raise their heads again in Bangladesh, the nation's future will be dark.”

Present at the discussion were Professor Abu Sayeed, Supreme Court Bar Association president AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and lawyer Sara Hossain. The keynote paper was presented by lawyer Hasan Tarik Chowdhury.