Interior Advisor M. Sakhawat Hossain has criticized the current state of Bangladesh’s politics, stating that it has been overtaken by sycophants. He urged politicians to remove these individuals from their circles, asserting that such politics cannot be sustained in the country.
Commenting on the situation, Brigadier M. Sakhawat Hossain said, “We have failed to cultivate genuine politicians and have instead fostered sycophants who continue to claim that everything is fine, even in the face of dire circumstances.”
He made these remarks on Sunday afternoon while visiting injured police officers at the Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh. “It is impossible to run a political party effectively with a group of sycophants,” he noted. “Political parties, whether currently or formerly in power, will continue to exist. Their politics cannot simply be dismissed, but it is imperative to recognize the need to remove sycophants.”
Addressing the issue further, Sakhawat Hossain questioned the whereabouts of these sycophants now, pointing out that they have either fled or gone into hiding. “These sycophants, who would lavish leaders with praise to the point of burying them under flowers, are nowhere to be found now. The leaders enjoyed it, but where are those sycophants now? Some have fled, and others have disappeared because they were on the wrong side of the public,” he said.
He added, “You cannot run a state this way. Politics in a country cannot be dictated by the whims of one person. Despite the contributions of any one individual, including Bangabandhu in the Liberation War, it was the collective effort of millions who fought and sacrificed their lives for independence. This state is not anyone’s personal property, and I want to make it clear: it is not the property of any individual or family.”
Reflecting on the concentration of power, Sakhawat Hossain lamented, “Politics has been so corrupted that it has become nearly impossible for anyone else to enter. Power has been tightly controlled, and even after the deaths of thousands, there are still those who seek to cling to it. It is deeply unfortunate.”
He expressed hope that new leadership would emerge within the Awami League, a party with a long history, and that they would learn from these lessons. “I will advocate for the enforcement of the Political Party Act to ensure that parties are run according to proper guidelines, or they should be shut down,” he stated.
Regarding the use of police as a force to suppress opposition, the Advisor noted that arming the police with lethal weapons like the 7.62 rifles, which were likely distributed 15-20 years ago, was inappropriate. “The police were given these weapons to be used as a tool of oppression, not for rightful law enforcement.”
He concluded by calling for accountability for those responsible for ordering the police to fire on students and citizens. “We must identify those who have misused the police, understand their intentions, and bring them to justice. Both international and domestic investigations will take place to determine the roles played by those who gave these orders,” he affirmed.
