Veteran Bangladeshi journalist Masud Kamal has launched a scathing attack on the recently concluded National Consensus Commission, labelling its outcomes a complete failure and accusing it of fostering “national disunity” rather than unity.
In a video address to his viewers on Thursday, Kamal reiterated his long-standing criticisms of the commission’s formation, qualifications of its members, and wasteful expenditure of public funds, while also defending himself against personal allegations from abroad.
Kamal, known for his outspoken commentary on political reforms, revealed that he had analysed the commission’s results in a previous content piece. “From the very beginning, I have criticised the Consensus Commission and various reform commissions,” he stated. He highlighted structural deficiencies in the commission’s setup, arguing that the appointed members were largely unqualified.
“I gave examples: this work is not for them, and the people given responsibility were not competent at all,” Kamal asserted.
BNP slams โdeceptionโ as consensus commission ignites firestorm
50 injured as fascist Yunus violently cracks down on Ebtedayi madrasa teachers
Minority groups concerned over violence, propaganda by radical Islamists
A key point of contention was the background of senior appointees. Kamal claimed most held foreign citizenship and were expatriates returning to “rescue” Bangladesh as if locals were incapable. “They came with a great vow, showing us work as if we understand nothing,” he said, mocking the process.
He expressed outrage over the use of taxpayer money, estimating lavish perks including cars, fuel, offices, salaries, and even senior secretary positions for individuals he deemed underqualified. “I know someone doubtful of even passing a master’s who became a senior secretary,” Kamal fumed, contrasting this with acceptable paths like becoming an MP with less education.
The headline from his prior analysis, titled “A mule’s foal hatched from a horse’s egg,โ drew self-admission of being overly provocative due to anger. Kamal tied the commission’s failure to broader electoral issues, noting the BNP’s accusation that it created “national disunity.”
He referenced BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s recent statements as evidence of political fallout.
Interview With The Independent: Sheikh Hasina stands tall, debunks propaganda
Interview With Reuters: Sheikh Hasina champions fair, inclusive elections
Interview With AFP: Sheikh Hasina blames foreign conspiracy for ouster
On elections and reforms, Kamal emphasised implementation flaws. Responding to viewer comments, he agreed that good people often lose votes in a flawed system but stressed that elected “bad” actors won’t enact reforms.
“You do the work, but who implements? If bad elected people get responsibility, they won’t do it,” he explained. He questioned members’ patriotism, arguing that foreign citizenship betrays the nation. “No patriotic person abandons their country for another citizenship. The right to dictate big reforms belongs only to patriots,” Kamal declared, prioritising character and loyalty over knowledge.
Viewer interactions underscored public resonance. One commenter partially agreed initially but was surprised by the extent of failure; another urged Kamal to contest elections to expose local realities. Kamal hoped his predictions were wrong for the nation’s sake, but lamented, “This is our fate.”
โBarking dogโ
Kamal also addressed personal attacks in a video by anarchist YouTuber Elias Hossain, accusing him of corruption and ties to dubious entities. He dismissed it as baseless “barking” lacking evidence or journalistic ethics, challenging Elias to return to Bangladesh for a face-to-face debate or legal action.
“Prove even one paisa of corruption, and I’ll squat holding ears in public,” he dared, extending an open challenge to all accusers.
Kamal concluded emotionally, affirming his clean record and family support, while urging viewers to ignore slander. As Bangladesh navigates post-reform political turbulence, Kamal’s observations highlight deep scepticism toward top-down commissions and call for patriotic, qualified leadership in future elections. The video has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many echoing demands for accountability in reform processes.
English