NCP’s Nahid demands justice, reforms, election roadmap amid escalating political unrest

Amid growing political unrest over the election timeline, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has called on the government to mete out justice for the crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising, actualise state reforms and present an election roadmap.

Speaking at the temporary headquarters of the party in Dhaka's Banglamotor on Saturday, Nahid stressed that the interim government had been formed with the aim of turning the “aspirations of the mass uprising” into reality.

The NCP and a key ally of the July movement, the BNP, are gradually drifting apart due to their differing political views and priorities. The BNP believes the election and an elected government must be in place to administer justice and carry out reforms.

With speculation swirling over the possible resignation of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, Nahid provided a reminder of what was expected of the interim government.

“We expected justice, reform and elections from the government. This government was formed in the context of the mass uprising and has the responsibility to implement the aspirations of the mass uprising.

“The government should not only organise an election, but hold trials for the crimes of the past, including the July massacre, and carry out fundamental state reforms.

“[Chief Advisor] Dr Muhammad Yunus should take responsibility and formulate the July Proclamation within the stipulated time after discussing it with all parties. The roadmap for justice, reform and elections should be released simultaneously to make the people feel relieved and confident.”

Nahid, who left his post as an advisor to the interim government to enter politics, also brought up the issue of publishing the list of people who took shelter in the cantonments after the July movement.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) made the list public on Thursday, noting that 626 people took refuge in different cantonments at that time.

Nahid said, “We have been hearing about a list of 626 people from the Army for a long time. This was an incident on Aug 18. Had this list been published earlier, people would have no doubt and no one would have had the opportunity to speak against the institution.”

He also said that the Army played an important role during the movement and the period that followed.

“In the past, the army had political links, such as the 1/11 incident. Nothing good came out of these incidents for the state, the people and democratic institutions.

“Keeping that in mind, everyone should fulfil their responsibilities. In the past, different institutions, including the bureaucratic ones, police and Army, have been partisanised.

“They have allegedly been used to carry out different types of inhuman acts. So, we hope that now the accused in each institution will be penalised through trial, and these will be re-established as public institutions.

“Many Army officers accused of involvement in disappearances have not yet been arrested. We do not know anything about their whereabouts. These issues need to be clarified.

“If the issues are clarified, the Army as an institution will regain people’s faith. We want to see the Army in a position of trust.”

The NCP-BNP conflict stemming from Ishraque Hossain’s appointment as Dhaka South mayor has taken centre stage in the ongoing political turmoil.

On this, Nahid said: “An attempt is being made to seek a kind of legitimacy for the Awami League-era elections by going to court. This will create chaos. Anti-fascist political parties consider the Awami League-era elections illegal.

“So, instead of causing disorder over those elections, we should move towards local government elections.”

Claiming that people no longer have faith in the existing Election Commission (EC), Nahid said: “If the Election Commission cannot maintain its position of trust, then a fair election is not possible through this Election Commission. It must regain trust, otherwise it will have to relinquish its authority.”

Speaking about the demand for the resignation of two student advisors in the interim government over their “involvement with the NCP”, Nahid said, “The NCP has no connection with those two student advisors. They went to the government as representatives of the mass uprising, and so did I.

“If they want to do politics and contest in the election, they will have to leave the government. They are being linked to the National Citizens Party and are being humiliated in the form of propaganda.

“They joined [the government] as representatives to rehabilitate the families of the July martyrs and injured, try the murderers and implement reforms. So, when they will leave the government, or whether they will do so at all, falls on them.”

Speaking about external forces interfering with Bangladesh’s internal affairs, Nahid said: “Neighbouring countries and anti-Bangladesh forces are trying to create disunity and division among political parties so that the country can never develop as a strong nation.

“Different sorts of propaganda are being orchestrated in the Indian media about Bangladesh. Essentially, the Awami League is driving this disunity in Bangladeshi politics.

“If Bangladesh is to be free from fascism, we have to maintain political unity. The NCP is always playing a responsible role. It should not be blamed solely for political reasons.”