United News of Bangladesh

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam on Sunday urged allies and supporters to prepare for a fresh mass movement saying that the current government will never voluntarily implement reforms. Nahid made the remarks while presiding over an view-exchange meeting between July uprising martyrs' families and July fighters organised by the 11-party alliance at the Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium in the capital. “Two years after the mass uprising, we still stand united in the conviction that Bangladesh must be transformed through fundamental reforms. And the primary obstacle standing in the way of that transformation is the current government,” Nahid said. Expressing frustration over the failure of parliamentary processes, he said, “We had hoped that everything would be resolved in parliament. But parliament has been rendered ineffective. We must now prepare for a mass movement. Without it, the government will not implement reforms.” He, however, stressed that this time the movement must be strategic. “We do not want to fail again or settle for half-success. This time, we will take to the streets with a plan.” Asserting collective ownership of the reform agenda, the NCP chief said, “Reforms do not belong to any single party, they are a demand for the survival of Bangladesh.” He pledged that the alliance's leaders would stand at the frontline of any confrontation. “If bullets come, they will hit our chests first.” Nahid also accused the BNP government of exploiting the legacy of the July uprising for political legitimacy. “July martyrs and the wounded are the assets of this nation. We do not want to use them for politics. But the government invokes July fighters and even the spirit of 1971 to legitimise its actions while genuinely embodying neither.” He further alleged that Bangladesh has been moving backwards since the BNP assumed power. “The BNP reaped the fruits of the mass uprising of the 1990s but discarded the three-alliance roadmap once in power. Even now, they are rejecting the July Charter and the ordinance.” Senior leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh-led 11-party alliance were also present at the event.  

National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Hasnat Abdullah on Wednesday warned that any attempt to exert undue control over judges will ultimately harm the country, stressing that safeguarding judicial independence is essential for maintaining the rule of law. In a Facebook post on his verified page, he said 28 judges have been served show-cause notices for expressing opinions within their internal groups. “This is the most worrying area. If judges cannot have constructive discussions among themselves in a safe space, then where does the independence of the judiciary actually stand?” Hasnat Abdullah wrote. NCP announces mayoral candidates for five city corporations Taking action against judges based on screenshots, he added, is a clear attempt to intimidate in the judiciary. “The message is very clear: ‘Keep quiet, otherwise you will get into trouble.’” Referring to the period after August 5, the NCP lawmaker said there was a time when judges seemed able to think and write with some courage, but that atmosphere is now slowly giving way to fear. “If such pressure continues on the judiciary, the place where the common people can seek justice also weakens.” He emphasised that this is not an issue of individuals but of the system as a whole. “If the voice of judges is controlled in this way, the entire country will ultimately have to pay the price. This decision needs to be at least reconsidered.” “The judiciary cannot be strengthened through intimidation; it can only be weakened,” Hasnat said.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan on Thursday said the role of Islami Andolan Bangladesh during the July uprising will be remembered forever. “Islami Andolan Bangladesh stood by us as the first political party to take to the streets with its banner during the July uprising. We will remember your contribution to the country and the nation forever,” he said while addressing a gathering at the Charmonai Mahfil in Barishal Sadar upazila. “I am able to stand before you today because of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and those who supported us at that time,” he said. He added that the relationship built with Islami Andolan Bangladesh during the movement for the people’s liberation would continue in the future. Earlier in the day, on the second day of the Charmonai Mahfil, an NCP delegation led by former adviser to the interim government and NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan visited the darbar of the Charmonai Pir in Barishal Sadar upazila.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced its mayoral candidates for five out of the country’s 12 city corporations ahead of the upcoming local government elections. The announcement came at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Banglamotor on Sunday night, where NCP Convener and Chief Whip of the Opposition in Parliament Nahid Islam unveiled the names of the candidates. According to the announcement, NCP Spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan will contest for mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, while the party’s Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb will run for Dhaka North City Corporation. For other city corporations, Advocate Tarikul Islam, Convener of NCP Jubo Shakti, has been nominated for Cumilla City Corporation; Advocate Md Abdur Rahman Afzal, Convener of Sylhet NCP, for Sylhet City Corporation; and Md Mobasswer Ali, Convener of Rajshahi NCP, for Rajshahi City Corporation. The party also said it plans to announce candidates for the remaining seven city corporations by April.

Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday visited families of martyrs of the July mass uprising and offered prayers at their graves in the capital, marking Eid-ul-Fitr with a programme titled ‘Shaheedi Mulakat’. As part of the initiative, NCP leaders exchanged Eid greetings with family members of the fallen and prayed for the departed souls at graveyards. A delegation led by the party’s Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb visited the graves of Arafat Hossain Shahadat, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, Ridwan Sharif Riyad (Joy), and Jabir Ibrahim in Uttara and surrounding areas, before meeting their families. After offering Eid prayers, the leaders first went to Arafat’s residence, where they greeted his parents and other family members. During the visit, Arafat’s brother Hasan Ali demanded justice for his brother’s killing and expressed concern over the financial and social security of the martyr’s family. Later around 11am, the delegation visited the graves of Mugdho and Joy in the Kamarpara area and offered prayers. They also met Joy’s family members and exchanged Eid greetings. In a separate programme, another NCP delegation led by Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary visited the family of Farhan Faiyaz around 7pm and conveyed Eid greetings. The party leaders said the ‘Shaheedi Mulakat’ programme reflects their solidarity with the families of those who sacrificed their lives during the July uprising.

Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), on Friday demanded the swift impeachment and arrest of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, calling him a ‘collaborator of fascism.’ “He has violated his oath, there are allegations of corruption against him and he remained indifferent during the genocide,” he alleged. A new president must be elected without delay, he said at the NCP’s divisional Iftar in Mymensingh. He added that despite allegations of election engineering and manipulation, NCP representatives joined the parliament session to respect the institution and to work toward constitutional reforms. Nahid said they attended parliament with commitments to ensure the effective functioning of the legislature, establish the upper house and carry out constitutional reforms. “We said we do not want any associate of fascism in this parliament. We want a fascism-free national parliament,” he added. He alleged that although the parliamentary session began positively and his party participated sincerely, the President whom he described as an associate of fascisms was allowed to deliver a speech. “Allowing him to speak in parliament was a kind of betrayal with the aspirations of July,” he said. At the programme, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari expressed hope that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would be brought back from India and the death sentence against her carried out. Nasir also alleged that extortion is taking place in different sectors in Mymensingh including sand trading and bus terminals and called for steps to stop such activities. He further said some people are trying to profit from the drying up of the Brahmaputra River and urged resistance against such attempts.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Md Nahid Islam on Monday said the current government’s legitimacy originates from the July mass uprising, warning that it would be questioned if the July Charter is not implemented. “This government did not come to power out of thin air. It was not formed through a conventional constitutional process. Its legitimacy comes from the July mass uprising,” he said while addressing an iftar and prayer event organised by the NCP’s Khulna divisional unit at Khulna District Stadium. Nahid also said the legitimacy of the interim government had similarly stemmed from the popular uprising. He warned that if the government avoids implementing the July Charter citing the old constitution, its legitimacy would become questionable. Referring to the presence of leaders and activists from various political parties on the same stage, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP, Nahid said the July uprising made such unity possible. “Because of the July mass uprising we are able to stand on the same stage today. We are here on the blood of hundreds of martyrs,” he said. Among the invited guests at the iftar mahfil were Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, Khulna-2 MP Advocate Sheikh Zahangir Hossain Helal, Khelafat Majlis Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Sakhawat Hossain, and leaders of the 11-party alliance in Khulna division, including Jamaat’s Hindu wing leader Krishna Nandi. Special guests included NCP Chief Organiser for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, National Youth Shakti Convener Advocate Tarikul Islam, and National Student Shakti President Zahid Ahsan, along with central and divisional leaders. The programme was chaired by NCP Joint Member Secretary and Khulna divisional organising secretary Faridul Haque. Speaking at the event, Nasiruddin Patwary said people in Khulna had eagerly waited to vote for the party’s symbol “Shapla Koli,” but the party could not field candidates there. He said the party would try to nominate candidates in every constituency in future local government elections. Criticising the Rampal coal-fired power plant, he urged the government to shut it down, alleging that the project had been set up during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in cooperation with India.

Marking International Women’s Day, the women’s wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP) 'Jatiya Nari Shakti,' formally launched on Sunday, with Monira Sharmin named convener, Mahmuda Alam Mitu as member secretary, and Nusrat Tabassum as chief organiser. NCP Convener Nahid Islam announced the three-member committee at a programme held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. Nahid said, “We will try to find those women across the country whose voices were lost in July. Jatiya Nari Shakti will bring them forward once again. There are many questions about why women stepped back from the frontlines after July. We also share responsibility for this. Those who are still in politics have faced such intense cyberbullying that many were forced to retreat.” Nahid said women from NCP’s other affiliated bodies, as well as those outside the party, would be encouraged to join the new platform. The newly appointed leaders will soon form a full-fledged committee and work on drafting the organisation’s manifesto, objectives and constitution. “They will also work to organise women across the country.” Expressing hope for the organisation’s future role, Nahid said Jatiya Nari Shakti would take a strong stance in support of women’s rights in Bangladesh, particularly against violence against women and cyberbullying. He noted that the party initially had no plan to form a separate women’s body, intending instead to address women’s issues within the main party structure. “Later we felt there should be a distinct stream within the party that focuses specifically on women,” Nahid said, adding that the leadership eventually realised the need for a separate platform that would work both on women’s issues and the party’s broader ideals. Among the new committee members, Monira Sharmin and Nusrat Tabassum also serve as joint conveners of the NCP central committee, while Mahmuda Alam Mitu is a joint member secretary of the party’s central body.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a member of parliament, on Saturday alleged that attempts are being made to rehabilitate the Awami League in the name of the Liberation War and the historic 7 March Speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, warning that such efforts would not be accepted. “Attempts have begun to rehabilitate the Awami League in the name of the Liberation War and the historic 7 March speech. We want to say that the Liberation War is a matter of our pride, but Awami League has undermined that pride,” Nahid said while addressing an iftar programme organised by the NCP in Faridpur. Nahid alleged that the Awami League had legitimised various crimes including enforced disappearances, killings and money laundering by invoking the Liberation War. “The Awami League cannot be rehabilitated in the name of the Liberation War, the 7 March speech or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” The NCP leader also accused the government of betraying the aspirations associated with the “July Charter,” saying they had taken two pledges based on the charter’s implementation order. “The ruling party has taken one of those pledges, but it has been the first to betray the aspirations of July and the July Charter.” Expressing willingness to work constructively with the government, Nahid said the government must take oath under the reform council before the parliamentary session scheduled for the 12th. Nahid further demanded the removal of what he termed a ‘fascist president’ in the first parliamentary session, warning that otherwise an 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami would be compelled to take to the streets. Nahid urges NCP to be fully prepared for local polls battle Nahid also alleged that the government had already started politicising key state institutions. “We saw during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina how state institutions including the judiciary, administration and police were politicised. The current government has not even completed a month in office, yet we are already witnessing similar tendencies.” Among others, special guests at the iftar programme included Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of the NCP’s northern region; Nizam Uddin, joint member secretary and Faridpur divisional organising secretary; Tariqul Islam, convener of Jatiya Juboshakti; and Zahid Ahsan, convener of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, along with central and divisional leaders of the NCP.  

Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nasiruddin Patwary has expressed dissatisfaction over the poor condition of several roads in Sylhet, warning that public suffering will worsen if urgent repairs are not undertaken. He made the remarks while addressing an iftar mahfil organised by the National Citizen Party in Sylhet city on Wednesday. Patwary said he was surprised by the deteriorating condition of roads on his way to Sylhet. In many areas, he said, roads have become risky for movement, causing serious inconvenience to residents. He urged local journalists to highlight the actual condition of the roads through media reports to draw the attention of the authorities concerned. He observed that those who are financially solvent can travel to the capital by air or alternative routes, but workers and ordinary people are compelled to use these hazardous roads daily, leading to immense hardship. The NCP leader also expressed concern over the overall law and order situation in the country. He called on the government to take more effective and visible steps to ensure public safety, particularly for women and children. Nahid urges NCP to be fully prepared for local polls battle Patwary said the younger generation aspires to build a safe, humane and prosperous Bangladesh. He urged the people of Sylhet to uphold the ideals of Shah Jalal and Shah Paran in working towards building a just society. He wished for the welfare of the country and thanked party leaders, activists and guests present at the event.