National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam today outlined his vision for an inclusive Bangladesh where all communities coexist as equal citizens during the party’s “July March to Build the Nation” rally at Banarupa.
“We envision a Bangladesh free from communal divisions that have plagued us for 50 years, with the Chittagong Hill Tracts suffering most,” Nahid told the gathering. “External forces have long exploited these divisions – we must resolve internal disputes through dialogue, not let others profit from our differences.”
Presided over by NCP Rangamati Chief Coordinator Bipin Jyoti Chakma, the rally featured speeches by senior leaders including Hasnat Abdullah (South), Sarjis Alam (North), Samanta Sharmin and Tasnim Jara.
Nahid criticised the 1972 Constitution’s “Mujibist version” for institutionalising exclusion: “It promoted Bengali nationalism at non-Bengalis’ expense and weaponised secularism to divide religions. Like MN Larma in 1972, we demand its replacement with a democratic charter protecting all citizens’ rights.”
The NCP leader noted persistent struggles of Chakma, Marma, Tanchangya and Bawm communities for linguistic, religious and land rights, while acknowledging deprivation among Bengali settlers. “This collective suffering demands united resistance – no voice should be silenced,” he asserted.
The march commenced at 1:15pm from Shilpakala Academy, traversing Rangamati’s main thoroughfares before concluding at Banarupa. This marks NCP’s first major Rangamati rally under its ongoing July mobilisation campaign.
Nahid also visited families of July uprising martyrs in Chattogram, where he stated, “We are enduring immense challenges. You’ve witnessed what happened to us in Gopalganj. Obstacles are emerging from various quarters. We seek your prayers – your blessings mean everything to us.”
The NCP delegation met with martyrs’ families at Motel Soikot in New Market area Sunday morning at 10:30am to inquire about their wellbeing.
Nahid reflected, “When we were in government or had representatives there, we attempted multiple initiatives for July martyrs’ families. But government efforts either failed to reach grassroots levels or faced delays, as collaborators of authoritarianism still occupy administrative tiers. Martyrs’ families deserve honour they’re being denied – we keep hearing such grievances.”
Addressing the families, he emphasised: “We haven’t come as a political party. We participated in the uprising together – your loved ones stood with us beyond partisan lines. Martyrs belong to no party; they sacrificed for all Bangladesh.”
NCP launched its nationwide “July March for Nation-Building” on July 1. After Saturday’s disrupted rally in Cox’s Bazar’s Bus Terminal area – where Chakaria-bound protesters faced stage vandalisation – the party held an evening march in Bandarban before returning to Chattogram overnight.