The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a “Chol Chol Dhaka Chol” (Let’s go, Dhaka) programme at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on August 3 to press for the demands outlined in its July Declaration. The party plans to stage a major electoral showdown on that day.
Hasnat Abdullah, NCP’s chief organiser for the southern region, disclosed the programme during a street rally at Pabna’s Shaheed Square on Monday night as part of the party’s ongoing “July March” campaign.
Earlier, on June 29, marking the anniversary of the July uprising, NCP announced the month-long “July March to Build the Nation” campaign at a press conference in Dhaka. As per the schedule, the campaign began on July 1 with a visit to the grave of martyr Abu Sayeed in Rangpur.
Since then, the party has held public rallies and street marches across several northern districts, resembling an electoral campaign.
UNB reports that at the Pabna rally, Hasnat Abdullah accused certain factions of opposing the uprising: “One party has taken a stance against our revolution, claiming it lacks legal basis. They have now assumed the role of contractors for ‘Mujibism’,” going on to warn against “India’s conspiracies and media manipulation.”
Hasnat declared that the August 3 gathering at Shaheed Minar would amplify demands for the July Declaration.
NCP Convener Nahid Islam alleged at the rally: “Political parties have betrayed both the July uprising and the people. We said fascist Hasina cannot remain prime minister – and this generation ousted her. But those parties feared removing the puppet. They deceived the revolution and the masses.”
Demanding justice for fascists and genocide perpetrators, Nahid stated: “We called for reforms in media, police, bureaucracy, military, and the constitution. A new Bangladesh will be built through reform. The graffiti our students painted on the walls of schools and colleges during the uprising has already drafted a new constitution. Those writings captured the people’s aspirations post-August 5.”
Other speakers at the rally included Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Northern Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam, and Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Zara.