According to the spirit of the discussions, our entire student life was spent within the circle of Razakars. At that time, the sole agents claiming the Liberation War were not in power. Many close associates of the Sheikh family were not even in Bangladesh. They couldn't come, they were not allowed to come, and the environment wasn't conducive for their return. For them, traps of death were laid.

When they were not there, the Awami League was. When they will not be there, the Awami League will still be there. The Awami League is a political party. So, the people of today will not be there at one point, but the party will remain. This leadership will not be there in the future; new leaders will come and take the helm of the party. Hence, Awami League is not the party of Bangabandhu or Sheikh Hasina or any individual; it is the party of the people.

During our time, mobile phones had not been invented, and we had not heard of anything called the internet. Radio and TV were not abundant. Towards the end of our student life, a TV was placed in the hostel. The Liberation War and independence were not talked about as openly as they are now. What was said was fragmented and distorted history. The names Awami League, Bangabandhu, and Sheikh Mujib were forbidden to be mentioned.

There were not many newspapers back then. What was available, we couldn't afford to buy. Often, we would get a day's newspaper the next day. Even in newspapers, the Liberation War and independence were overlooked, fragmented, and distorted. Writing the words Razakar, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams was forbidden.

In the books of that time, the history of the Liberation War and independence was not as extensively mentioned as it is now. What was there was also distorted and fragmented.

In such a situation, we engaged in student politics. We chanted slogans of Marxism-Leninism, chanted "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu." We roared and shook the campus and streets with slogans like "Razakar-Al-Badr - now we'll bury you," "Jamaat-Shibir, Razakar - leave Bengal at this moment," and "Jamaat-Shibir, fundamentalism - capitalism in the name of religion."

We avoided student politicians who were against the independence and Liberation War. We rarely stayed in the same room with them. We refrained from collaborating with them in any work. Our circle of friends was different. We had close friendships with student politicians of the same ideology. Personal closeness with the anti-independence forces was minimal. We did not give them any concessions in anything.

In that politically hostile environment, where did we get the mental strength and awareness to stand against the anti-independence forces? The simple answer is the ideological practice, perseverance, and the fiery spirit inherited from the sacrifices of our ancestors. From a dream of building a beautiful country.

At that time, no student, student organization, or student assembly anywhere in the country ever declared themselves as Razakars with any slogan.

Now, all electronic media, paper media, and online media talk about independence and the Liberation War tirelessly. All books, supplements, certificates, deeds, agreements, loans, love letters, and releases continuously speak of independence, the Liberation War, and Bangabandhu.

Supporters-opponents, men allies-women allies, grooms-brides – all talk about independence and the Liberation War until their mouths foam. The country's canals, ponds, rivers, and seas are flooded with the tide of independence and the Liberation War. Every inch of the country's land is being cultivated with independence and the Liberation War. Then why is the slogan "I am Razakar" being raised in educational institutions today? When it was supposed to be raised, it was not. Whose failure is this?

Instead of genuine pure practice for realizing the dream of the Liberation War and independence, there has been excessive rhetoric in the media. There has been such a gap between words and actions that the promotion of independence has become self-destructive. A tragic irony.

Instead of creating exemplary models, you have created an intolerable environment, irritating people to the point that they raise this slogan out of annoyance and frustration. Analyzing the context, it is clear that this is not their heartfelt sentiment, but their scorn, mockery, and satire towards you. This is not just a reaction to the quota reform movement; it is a response to their overall dissatisfaction.

By talking about independence, the Liberation War, and ideals, you have done such unprincipled work that a void of ideals has been created. Today's slogan is a byproduct of that ideological void.

Where have you taken the country in terms of morality and principles? Today's slogan indicates that the young generation, which the anti-independence forces could not destroy while in power, you have destroyed.

Have you tried to understand how much anger, sorrow, frustration, and pain is hidden in the slogan "I am Razakar"? No, you have not. Because doing so would reveal your political defeat and make your failures glaringly apparent. Therefore, instead of reading the underlying sentiment, you are desperate to achieve political victory by pointing out the flaws in the slogan.

You will never get to the root of anything, always giving cheap rhetoric about the effects? How much more?

According to information, six young people have been killed. Will you kill them all? Will you not make them understand? Can you not create a safe working environment for the youth outside of government jobs? Can you not set exemplary models?

Why have you deployed the Chhatra League? Without administrative backup, the Chhatra League would vanish. Step out without protection and see your condition. Where is the public support, which direction will you realize?

No newspaper in the world has mentioned Role Models. Until yesterday, news of the killing of five youths demanding quota reform was covered by major newspapers worldwide like Al Jazeera, Reuters, and AFP. Great reputation for the country!

Have you read Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Debotar Gras"? After the irritated mother curses her child to death, the deity calls on the mother to fulfill her vow by throwing her child into the sea. The mother then cries and says - you listened to the words of the deity, but not the heart of the mother. The slogan "I am Razakar" also hides the same underlying sentiment, regret, anger, pain, and satire. Analyze it with an open mind.

Mokshada said, "I am a very foolish woman,
What I said in anger - O omniscient one,
Did that become the truth?
How far was it false Didn't you understand that then, oh Lord?
Did you only listen to the words, deity?
Didn't you listen to the heart of the mother?"

Find a logical and fair solution to the issue, or else the satire of today's generation will turn into their belief tomorrow. A situation will arise where it will be shameful to identify as a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, and the spirit of the Liberation War will be ridiculed and mocked. I implore you, do not take on the role of Vibhishan in this manner. You will not always be in the Awami League, but the Awami League will remain.

To the esteemed Dr. Zafar Iqbal Sir, I would say - it is not necessary to make the Awami League happy by announcing that you will not go to Dhaka University out of anger, rather it is more important to go to Dhaka University and correct the young ones. It is important to make them understand. They are our children; it is our responsibility to bring them to the right path.

The Honorable Prime Minister is a politician; she can engage in a war of words with these children, argue with them, and use the police to beat them for political victory, but you cannot. If there are no successors to the Prime Ministers, the country does not suffer much, but if there are no successors to the wise, the country suffers greatly.

In this land, the mighty Pala dynasty, Sena dynasty, Aryan dynasty, Maurya dynasty, Mughal dynasty, Khilji dynasty, Baro Bhuiyan - all have perished, leaving no successors. But the successors of the wise of that time still exist. You are their great successor. This country does not need successors of inept politicians, but it does need successors of wise people like you. Embrace the children; they are our future.

• Professor Dr. Sheikh Md. Nazmul Hasan: Writer and Researcher
• Email: nazmul.uni.edu@yahoo.com