National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, a candidate for the Rangpur-4 (Pirgachha-Kaunia) constituency, claimed that no authoritarian force should have a place in inclusive elections.
He made this remark during a massive showdown on Thursday afternoon, leading a procession of over 200 auto-vans across nearly 50km of his electoral area.
He said that the people had long suffered under fascism, with the Awami League and Jatiya Party playing central roles in suppressing democracy.
Akhtar Hossain added: “A party that has carried out massacres, committed crimes against humanity, and looted democracy cannot be considered a pro-democracy force. Democracy-loving people do not allow fascist forces to engage in politics in their country.”
Before launching his campaign, Akhtar Hossain expressed confidence that the NCP would soon fulfil the necessary conditions for political party registration.
“We are already receiving overwhelming support from the public. I firmly believe we will be able to contest the next parliamentary elections,” he said.
He accused the Awami League and Jatiya Party of orchestrating three consecutive "dummy elections," calling them farcical and undemocratic.
“Due to the collusion between these two parties, the people of Bangladesh have been completely deprived of a democratic environment,” he alleged.
“The Awami League and its ally, the Jatiya Party, openly supported the massacre of 2024. They were also behind the Pilkhana tragedy, the Shapla Chattar crackdown, the 2013 atrocities, the anti-Modi movement suppression, and the July uprising. These massacres were orchestrated by Awami League leaders and the party itself,” he added.
He reiterated the NCP’s long-standing demand that the Awami League be tried as a political entity and have its registration revoked.
“The Awami League should be banned from political activities under its current ideology and branding,” he added, expressing the NCP’s firm belief that the party should not be allowed to participate in future elections.
Other NCP leaders were present during the campaign rally.
Campaigning with 210 auto-vans
Earlier in the day, hundreds of NCP leaders and activists gathered in the Mahiganj area of Rangpur city, preparing for the campaign.
At around 2:15pm, Akhtar Hossain arrived from Dhaka and kicked off his campaign by riding an auto-van, accompanied by supporters chanting slogans such as “Akhtar Bhai, move forward — we are with you!” and “Vote for Akhtar Bhai.”
Onlookers lined both sides of the road, waving and greeting the NCP leader.
Akhtar Hossain’s campaign reportedly rented 210 auto-vans to cover different areas of Pirgachha and Kaunia upazilas.
Several drivers confirmed that they were hired for Tk1,000 per day.
One of them, Saiful Islam from Mirbagh in Kaunia, said: “I was initially offered Tk800, but I negotiated for Tk1,000.”
Another driver, Afzal Hossain from Shahidbagh union, and Khorshed Alam from Mirbagh, echoed similar statements.
The total cost of renting the vehicles for the day exceeded Tk2 lakh, according to campaign sources.
