Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has criticized certain political parties for prioritizing power over necessary reforms.
He was speaking during a street rally of the party on Sunday afternoon on the Shaheed Minar premises near Krishnachura Mor in Pirojpur town.
He said: “Some only want power. Certain political parties are only demanding quick elections. Reforms do not seem important to them. If no one stands for reform in the country, then we—who took to the streets during the July uprising, and those of you who responded to our call and those who were martyred—have a responsibility towards them. We cannot leave the streets.”
Referring to the recent brutal killing of a businessman in Puran Dhaka, Nahid said: “Due to the tyranny of extortionists, businessmen are unable to operate properly. What a horrific incident occurred in Dhaka—how one of our businessmen was stoned to death. We condemn it.”
Stating that the party will visit every district, the NCP convener added: “The autocratic government clung to power by force for 16 years. There is no form of repression they did not carry out on the people. Abductions, killings, torture, corruption, looting, disenfranchisement, terrorism—there is no crime the fascist regime did not commit. People were unable to vote in three consecutive elections.”
Referring to the relentless oppression and torture faced by the people, Nahid said: “Not just the government or any political party, but all the forces of the state, including the police, began widespread repression. It was to escape this repression that we took to the streets.
"After the mass uprising, we said the state needs reform. We do not want to return to the old system. We do not want to go back to a corrupt structure. The core issue of our movement was inequality. Inequality must be addressed. After the mass uprising, the government we received should be supported by all, and the country should be rebuilt anew.”
Earlier, central leaders of the NCP visited the families of those who were martyred and injured in the July uprising in Pirojpur and inquired about their well-being.
