The National Citizen Party (NCP) has strongly condemned the recent attacks on its party convoys and declared that such acts of violence will not deter its continued movement for building a new Bangladesh.
On behalf of NCP, its Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain made these remarks at the "July Photo Exhibition", organized at Shahbagh, Dhaka, on Thursday around 7:15pm.
Speaking about the party's popular support, Akhtar Hossain declared that no matter how many cocktails explode, no matter how many grenade blasts occur, the general people of Bangladesh cannot be separated from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and its leadership.
Akhtar also emphasized the resilience of those who participated in the July uprising.
"We are those people who, even after being directly shot at, even after being killed by direct bullets, even after some of us became martyrs, another part of us stood chest-forward on the streets and uprooted Hasina's autocratic rule from Bangladesh," he said.
He further expressed confidence that recent attacks on their information display vehicles would not deter their movement.
"Just as the people of Bangladesh have pledged to build a new Bangladesh through the ruins, attacking our party convoy and information display vehicles will not suppress us," he said.
Akhtar also raised concerns about the slow pace of justice following the uprising, saying that so much time has passed since the uprising, yet there has been no significant progress in trials.
"Investigation reports have not been submitted, charge sheets have not been formed, and cases have not been made actionable," he added.
Akhtar particularly criticized the escape of top Awami League officials, saying: "The top terrorists of the Awami League, the biggest terrors who gave orders to shoot our students during the movement, who planned and committed genocide and crimes against humanity during the movement - these top terrorist Awami criminals have been allowed to flee from Bangladesh."
He called for immediate action against remaining collaborators within the administration.
"We call upon the government, as a post-uprising government, your primary duty is to find and take appropriate action against the Awami League collaborators hiding within the administration and law enforcement agencies," Akhtar said.
Looking toward the future, Akhtar outlined the party's vision for national unity, saying: "We call upon all anti-fascist successful political parties of Bangladesh to reach July's message to every person, to every home.”
He added: “Every political party, all anti-fascist sides, and social organizations should adopt various innovative programs centered around July."
He further expressed optimism about the country's trajectory, saying: "We believe that the strength and inspiration with which the people of Bangladesh united against Awami autocracy in July will successfully carry forward the journey toward rebuilding a new Bangladesh based on fundamental reforms and democratic structures."
Ariful Islam Adeeb, senior joint convenor of the NCP, provided additional context about ongoing violence against movement participants.
"In the past 10 months, the terrorist forces of this fascist killer Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League terrorists have been hiding in various places, harassing martyr families, attacking martyrs' graves, and assaulting injured comrades," he said.
Adeeb noted the targeting of movement leaders across the country, saying: "We are seeing that in various places outside Dhaka, especially in Comilla and other areas, those who provided leadership from the front have been attacked."
He characterized the recent attacks on NCP as part of a broader pattern.
He said: "Since the National Citizen Party has been formed from the uprising, carrying the aspirations and spirit of the uprising, when it appears as a political force representing those who participated in the uprising, today's attacks are being carried out to obstruct and block this path."
"We want to make it clear that those who participated in the movement, ignoring the fear of death and standing in front of bullets, forced that fascist killer to flee abroad," he concluded.
Joynal Abedin Shishir, joint member secretary of NCP; SM Saif Mustafiz, joint member secretary of NCP, among others, also delivered their speeches at the event.
