National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam has alleged that democracy and human rights are not safe in Bangladesh under Tarique Rahman, claiming the government is establishing laws and institutions to restrict rights rather than protect fundamental freedoms.
Speaking at a human chain held at the Parliament premises on Friday, the NCP leader said fundamental democratic rights for which citizens staged the 2024 mass uprising remain unfulfilled.
He highlighted the case of Miraj Shaikh, who has reportedly been missing for five months, claiming that police refused to record a case when his family visited the police station. Although a General Diary was eventually registered, authorities did not allow the coast guard’s name to be included.
Demanding an independent investigation into the disappearance, Nahid said entrusting probes to accused law enforcement agencies prevents a neutral inquiry, while legal provisions penalising complainants if allegations are proven false serve to discourage reporting.
Nahid also questioned the filing of cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act against Salahuddin Tanvir and Sifat from Gazipur.
Asking whether criticism of Tarique Rahman constitutes terrorism, he questioned if Tarique has become Bangladesh’s new “elder brother,” where speaking against him, creating memes, or hurling verbal abuse leads to anti-terrorism cases to suppress speech.
He further pointed out that while BNP previously demanded international inquiries into enforced disappearances of its own activists, it is now blocking independent national-level investigations after coming to power.
Referencing Tarique’s visit to the United Nations, Nahid stressed that he represents the nation rather than solely the BNP, and must answer internationally if domestic human rights standards are challenged.
He accused the government of failing to reform the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the police, and the Election Commission, asserting that the ACC was reconstituted after seven months to target the NCP and other opposition parties.
Moreover, he warned that the Human Rights Commission is being converted into a government organ and that cyber protection amendments endanger freedom of expression.
Five-point demand and call for accountability
Addressing the event, NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossen said the party has demanded a new state structure following the July mass uprising.
He accused the government of rejecting the mass referendum verdict upon taking office and repealing interim government ordinances regarding human rights and accountability.
Akhter expressed concern over leaving disappearance probes to law enforcement agencies, questioned plans to establish the Security Reform Battalion (SRB) in place of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and insisted that cyber security legislation must not curtail citizens’ freedom of speech.
He presented five key demands to the government: repealing the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act to restore interim government ordinances, establishing a strong and independent Human Rights Commission, refraining from reconstituting forces like RAB under new names, guaranteeing freedom of speech under cyber laws, and implementing the mass referendum verdict.
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the law fails to safeguard victims’ rights due to weak agency accountability and a lack of investigative independence.
He voiced concern over the Cyber Security Act’s lack of transparency and neutrality, adding that government disregard for NCP Members of Parliament forced the party onto the streets.
Patwary characterised the creation of the SRB as an attempt to maintain the old RAB structure under a new name, urging that no further disappearances like those of Salahuddin and Ilias Ali should occur.
Speakers at the rally collectively reiterated demands for independent disappearance inquiries, Human Rights Commission independence, expression rights under cyber laws, and implementation of the referendum verdict.
