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Published : 26 Mar 2025, 05:22 PM
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam has said the independence gained through the Liberation War in 1971 and the mass uprising of 2024 are not in conflict but are, in fact, part of a shared journey toward true freedom.
"Rather than being contradictory, the spirit of 1971 has been reignited through the movement of 2024,” Nahid told journalists on Wednesday, after paying tribute to the martyrs on the occasion of Independence Day.
“1971 and 2024 are not separate struggles,” he said. “They are chapters of the same unfinished story. What we sought in ’71—justice, equality, and sovereignty—remained unfulfilled for 54 years. For the last 15 years, we were suffocated by fascism. That’s why another uprising became inevitable.”
According to Nahid, the key coordinator of the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina, the people’s demands have remained the same across generations. “In 1971, we fought for equality. In 2024, we are demanding the same—a society free from disparity.”
“The uprising of 2024 has carved out a new path toward the independent, sovereign state we envisioned—not just in ’71, but also during the fight for Azadi in 1947.”
Nahid cautioned against attempts to hijack this moment of transformation.
“This opportunity must not be squandered for the sake of power. Those trying to pit ’71 and ’24 against each other are doing so out of ill intent. They never truly grasped the meaning of the 2024 uprising. It was a message from the youth—a signal of a new era. But some can’t bear that. They cling to the old electoral system, even after the mass awakening.”
He criticised the current push for elections without addressing deeper issues: “An election is being forced upon us while justice and reform are sidelined—only to secure power. At the same time, conspiracies are underway to bring back the fascist regime. But we, the NCP, will resist such efforts. We will move forward with the dreams of the uprising.”
Reiterating his party’s stance, Nahid said, “There is no conflict between ’71 and ’24. We see it as a continuation—a long journey of struggle and sacrifice.” He added, “The independence we achieved was stolen time and again. Our people have paid with their blood. This time, we hope they won’t have to.”
Nahid emphasised that national progress depends on embracing justice, reform, and the holding of a constituent assembly election. “We will not accept any election held without these conditions. If the goal is simply to install one specific party in power, we reject it outright.”
When asked about the apparent cracks in the unity of political parties since Aug 5, Nahid said, “The opportunity for national unity still exists. We remain committed to the platform we built. Some parties may now have different agendas—but if we truly want to realise the aspirations of the 2024 uprising and serve the national interest, we must continue together, even with differing views.”
However, he was firm in drawing the line: “There can be no unity with those who deviate from the goals of the uprising and the people’s demand for real reform.”
