National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Friday urged the public to resist those seeking to seize power through violence in the upcoming elections scheduled for 12 February.
“Those who want to seize power through killing must be stopped,” he said. “The election on 12 February is the day to end the politics of murder.”
He made the remarks at an election rally of 11-party alliance candidate Dilshana Parul in Dhaka-19 (Savar), held beside Matribagan Mosque in Shahibagh, with NCP Savar upazila convener Zulkarnain presiding.
He warned that any attempt at vote-rigging or electoral fraud in the coming election would meet the same fate as fascism, adding that the poll would be a verdict for change, reform and accountability.
Describing the election as one for transforming people’s lives, he said it would deliver a public verdict against loan defaulters and the corrupt, and stand against violence against women while establishing justice. He added that the National Citizen Party is contesting the election to uphold fairness and justice.
Alleging that a section is obstructing the party’s campaign out of fear of women voters, he claimed that a supporter was killed in Sherpur.
Those who believe in the politics of killing must be rejected through the ballot on 12 February,” he said.
Nahid Islam said the election would also serve as a people’s verdict against fascism, oppression and authoritarianism.
He termed it a major failure of the interim government that the perpetrators of killings have not been arrested, saying the killers of Osman Hadi are yet to be brought to justice. He noted that the victim’s family is staging a sit-in in front of Jamuna, adding that the ideals of Osman Hadi and the July uprising would be reflected in the people’s verdict.
Calling on voters to go to polling centres without fear, he said people should cast their votes even if they oppose his party, urging them to vote against subjugation and for justice.
He also cautioned against the return of what he described as dishonest and corrupt elements in politics, saying the 11-party alliance would not lack capable and experienced people if it comes to power, including those with international experience, to run the state.
The rally was also addressed by 11-party alliance candidate Dilshana Parul, Jamaat-e-Islami central Shura member and Dhaka district ameer Maulana Delwar Hossain, district secretary Maulana Afzal Hossain, district Jamaat law affairs secretary Advocate Shahidul Islam, Savar district political secretary Hasan Mahbub Master, among others.
