I have witnessed similar scenes in many countries, notably in Egypt and Ukraine, and also in Thailand. In all these cases, after students overthrew the government, extremists or the military rose to power in the name of democracy. The first act is always to ban the previous ruling party, followed by the dismantling of the opposition and the takeover of the media. This leads to the establishment of a ruthless, dictatorial regime, a real one, not a weak government that can be easily toppled by protests.
The truly difficult path lies ahead. We must accept the Awami League's participation in elections and, even if the results of the next election are unfavorable, we must have the tolerance to accept democracy. Otherwise, the military, or the BNP, or extremist parties that ride on the coattails of these protests, will establish a powerful government that will not tolerate any dissent. By the time we realize our mistake, it will be too late to regret.
This is a cycle that has been repeated time and again around the world. I sincerely hope that the people of Bangladesh will regain their composure, return to the fundamental principles of democracy, and prevent the emergence of a dictatorial regime. If, in the next general election, a particular party is excluded due to emotional decisions, it will mark the beginning of a dark era.