National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam said on Tuesday that people consider Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani one of the architects and one of the founding fathers of Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh does not have just one father of the nation. There are many fathers of the nation in Bangladesh. Without Maulana Bhashani, Sheikh Mujib could not be created,” he said.
Nahid made these remarks while addressing a street rally held at Nirala Mor in Tangail town as part of the ‘March for Nation-Building in July programme.
“From today’s rally, we want to respectfully remember Maulana Bhashani. Great political figures like Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq and Maulana Bhashani, who were architects of this country, have been excluded, and only one person has been declared as the Father of the Nation. One person has been worshipped for the last 54 years.”
It was through the mass uprising of 1969 that Awami League assumed leadership, and Maulana Bhashani was one of the key figures behind that uprising, Nahid mentioned.
The NCP convener added, “Maulana Bhashani fought for the farmers, for the workers, and for the masses. We want to carry forward Bangladesh with his ideals.”
“Maulana Bhashani was a political figure. He fought against British colonialism, domination of West Pakistan and against the hegemony of Delhi. He led the Farakka Long March and initiated the struggle for our rights over rivers and water.”
Nahid further said, “Maulana Bhashani was not just a politician and a political philosopher. He talked about the politics of responsibility.”
“We must take responsibility—for life, for nature, for society, and for the people around us. It is on the basis of that responsibility that we must build a new society and a new nation. That is the vision the National Citizens’ Party continues to voice.”
The event in Tangail was moderated by NCP Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari.
Among others, Northern Region Chief Organizer Sarjis Alam, organiser Azad Khan Bhashani, and NCP Tangail Chief Coordinator Masudur Rahman Russel also addressed the event.
Southern Region Chief Organizer Hasnat Abdullah, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr. Tasnim Zarah, Senior Member Secretary Sarwar Nibha, Dr. Taznuva, and other central leaders were present.