Gono Odhikar Parishad President and former Ducsu vice president Nurul Haque Nur has emphasized the need for state reforms prior to elections to ensure genuine change for the people.
Speaking at a divisional rally organized by Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Rangpur district branch on Friday, Nur called upon the interim government to consider both state restructuring and elections together.
“Without comprehensive state reforms, elections alone will not bring any meaningful change to people’s lives,” said Nur, urging the government to work toward a people-friendly administration and law enforcement.
"Over the past 53 years, political parties in power have prioritized self-interest, often supported by law enforcement repression. We need an administration that will consider people’s well-being above their own power,” he said.
In a sharp critique of the Jatiya Party, Nur said that remnants of authoritarian forces continue to threaten democratic forces, particularly targeting Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders in Rangpur.
He urged authorities to swiftly address these threats to maintain public peace, adding: “We do not want citizens to feel forced to take matters into their own hands, but if necessary, they will.”
He emphasized that the Gono Odhikar Parishad seeks to establish a stable administration and work alongside law enforcement to empower ordinary citizens.
Nur also highlighted the socioeconomic challenges facing Rangpur, where approximately 47% of the population lives below the poverty line.
He called for increased government support for agriculture, a significant industry in the region, pointing to export successes in crops like sweet pumpkin and “Haaribhanga” mangoes.
Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan also addressed the rally, criticizing the Jatiya Party as "national traitors," and alleging corruption by former Rangpur City mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, who is reportedly under Anti-Corruption Commission investigation. He called for a united front to resist authoritarian remnants.
Amid tight security, the rally began at Rangpur Zilla School ground with thousands of supporters in attendance.
Local police maintained a two-tier security perimeter, and the event concluded peacefully despite prior concerns over potential disruptions.
