In light of the current situation of the beloved motherland and for the protection of the Liberation War, the Constitution of 1972, the establishment of the rule of law, and safeguarding the dignity of courts and lawyers, “Kakshapath ’71” New York, USA organized a protest meeting on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 7:30 PM at the Jewish Center in New York, inhabited largely by Bangladeshis, according to IBN News.
Inspired by the spirit of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, this protest meeting of expatriate lawyers of Kakshapath ’71 was presided over by the organization’s convener, freedom fighter Advocate Sheikh Akhtar-ul-Islam, and conducted by joint convener Advocate Mia Zakir.
The meeting began with recitations from the Holy Qur’an by Advocate Qari Ashiq Uddin Khan, from the Holy Gita by Advocate Shri Jayjit Acharya, from the Holy Bible by Pastor Jens Christopher, and from the Holy Tripitaka by Sukriti Barua.
Advocate Mia Zakir delivered a speech regarding the aims and objectives of Kakshapath ’71.
The protest gathering was attended by freedom fighters, lawyers, journalists, poets, writers, political and cultural personalities, and representatives from various political, social, cultural, human rights, and liberation war organizations.
Speakers included Pradip Ranjan Kar, prominent adviser of the US Awami League, former GS of DUCSU, and freedom fighter; Hakikul Islam Khokan, senior journalist and editor of BAPs News, and adviser of US Awami League; Advocate Shah Mohammad Bakhtiar Ali, law secretary of US Awami League; freedom fighters Golam Mostafa Khan Miraj, Shawkat Akbar Ritchie, Ismail Khan Ansari, Faruk Hossain; cultural organizer and playwright Lutfun Nahar Lata; Nur Fatema; Progressive Forum leader Zakir Hossain Bacchu; Advocate Monir Hossain; cultural organizer Mitun Ahmed; former press minister of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, journalist Sazzad Hossain Sabuj; cultural organizers Minhaj Ahmed Samu, Mojahid Ansari, Ali Ahsan Kibria Anu; Advocates Nur Fatema, Abdul Sattar, Mohammad Ali Babul, Morsheda Jaman, Abdul Wahid, Shri Jayjit Acharya, freedom fighter Advocate Saidur Rahman Saeed, Advocate Tajul Islam, Jaiturya Chowdhury and Jharna Chowdhury, among others.
Also present were Advocates Syed Moin Uddin Junel, Rubina Mannan, Sonia Sultana, Arifur Rahman, Advocate Redwara Razzak, and many others including Khalilur Rahman Monir Hossain, Faruk Hossain, Mizan Ahmed, Sabbir Hossain Bappi, Christopher Adhikari, Poli Adhikari, Shahidul Islam, Abdul Sadeq, Reshma Yasmin, Nur Kaniz Fatema, freedom fighter Saidur Rahman, Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Selina Afreen Rita, Hanif Mridha, Advocate M.M. Zahid Anwar, M.A. Kashem, Rina Abedin, Syed S. Ali, singer Al Amin Babu, Mozafar Ahmed, Yasmin Rashid, Nizam Ahmed, Shefali Rowshan, Urbi Sabina, Fateh Lohani, Kajal Mahmud, Gitali Hawlader, Jalal Uddin, Hasan Ahmed, Nazrul Islam, Kubratun Nesa, and many more.
The meeting concluded with a speech by convener Advocate Sheikh Akhtar-ul-Islam, who highlighted important facts regarding the 1972 Constitution, presenting its copy before the audience.
In the keynote paper, joint convener Advocate Mia Zakir said:
“Kakshapath ’71: We want the Bangladesh of the spirit of the Liberation War.”
He explained that history, like the solar system, has its own “orbit” where forces of attraction and repulsion work. Just as bright stars shine with radiance, great personalities in history illuminate and shape the progress of a nation.
He reflected on the evolution of Bengali identity from the Aryan era, the loss of independence in 1757 due to the betrayal of Mir Jafar, two centuries of British divide-and-rule, and the unyielding struggles of the Bengalis — from sepoy mutiny to the language movement, Six-Point demand, Agartala Conspiracy Case, and beyond — culminating in the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He emphasized the milestones: the 1969 mass uprising, the 1970 elections, Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March speech, the March 25 genocide (Operation Searchlight), the declaration of independence, the Mujibnagar government, the 11 war sectors, and finally the victory of December 16, 1971 through the sacrifice of 3 million martyrs and countless others.
He said that after independence, January 10, 1972, marked Bangabandhu’s return, the withdrawal of allied forces, and the historic effort of building a state on the basis of national identity. But today, Bangladesh again faces internal and external conspiracies. He accused an unelected government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus of betraying the Liberation War’s spirit, suppressing rights, denying freedom of speech, and fueling communalism and extremism.
The speech underlined clear demands:
Principles & Philosophy
The spirit of the Liberation War and the Constitution of 1972 must be the foundation of governance.
Uphold the four pillars: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy, and Secularism.
Resist communalism, extremism, and fundamentalism.
Build a secular, humane, and progressive Bangladesh with all democratic forces.
Bangladesh must be a country of equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or region.
Any insult to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be treated as an inexcusable crime.
Proposed Reforms & Programs
Mass Education – one, uniform, secular, and scientific system; compulsory free schooling up to secondary level; integration of madrasa, English medium, and national curriculum into one.
Public Health – universal healthcare, hospitals and clinics at all levels, zero tolerance for corruption, control of drug prices, and priority to maternal, mental, and public health.
Public Transport – affordable, safe, and government-run; modernized urban transport; strict road safety laws; reserved facilities for women, children, disabled, and elderly.
Public Administration – politically neutral, accountable, and citizen-serving civil service; transparency in recruitment and promotion; stronger local government; zero tolerance for corruption.
Conclusion
The proposed policies, they said, could form a strong basis for national unity, progress, and collective development. The ultimate goal must be a secular, humane, scientific, and socially just state in the spirit of the Liberation War.
The meeting concluded with the singing of the national anthem of Bangladesh, and convener Advocate Sheikh Akhtar-ul-Islam called for strengthening Kakshapath ’71 further.
