Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Vice President and spokesperson Rashed Pradhan said Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poems and songs would inspire what he described as an “inevitable revolution” against the new government. He made the remarks on Saturday, August 29, after laying a wreath and offering prayers at the national poet’s grave on the 50th anniversary of Nazrul’s death.

Pradhan said Nazrul’s writing had historically inspired struggles and movements and remained a language of protest for deprived and oppressed people. He said JAGPA had expected a Bangladesh based on justice after the July mass uprising, but accused the government of betraying the public and rejecting a public referendum.

The JAGPA spokesperson alleged deterioration in law and order, rising commodity prices, shortages of fuel, electricity, gas and fertiliser, politicisation of the administration, corruption and extortion. He also called for justice in the killing of Osman Hadi and in the July killings, as well as the Pilkhana and Shapla incidents. Several JAGPA leaders attended the event.