Convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) and Opposition Chief Whip, Nahid Islam on Thursday alleged that the government is strategically politicising major state institutions, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to democracy.
He also urged the authorities to immediately form a Constitution Reform Council to implement the commitments made in the July Charter.
Nahid made the remarks while addressing an iftar reception organised by the NCP in honour of foreign diplomats on the occasion of the party’s anniversary at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Thursday evening.
Speaking at the event, he claimed that the reform process outlined in the July Charter has lost momentum. According to him, the government has been politicising key institutions of the state, including Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Demanding the immediate formation of the Constitution Reform Council, Nahid said the proposal had been clearly stated in the July Charter. He called for freeing state institutions from political influence and urged the international community to pay attention to the issue to ensure that these institutions serve the public interest.
Several diplomats and representatives of the international community attended the programme. Among them were British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh, Singapore’s Singapore’s High Commissioner Michelle Lee, Turkish Ambassador Remis Sen, Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle, First Secretary of the US Embassy in Dhaka James Stewart, Palestinian Ambassador Yousef Ramadan and Pakistani High Commissioner Imran Haider along with his deputy Muhammad Wasim.
Norwegian Ambassador Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks, Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli, Charg‚ d’Affaires of the European Union Baiba Zarina, Deputy Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme Sonali Dayaratne, Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga and Sri Lankan Ambassador Dharmapala Weerakkody were also present.
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan Takahashi Naoki, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Nepal Lalita Silwal and a representative from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office Eniu Hegos were also present.
Diplomats from several other countries including China, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, India, Maldives and Brunei also attended the programme.
Among NCP leaders present were Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Senior Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud, Joint Convener Dr Atik Mujahid, Joint Member Secretary and Deputy Head of International Cell Alauddin Mohammad, Joint Conveners Monira Sharmin, Nusrat Tabassum, Javed Rasin and Sarwar Tushar.
Also present were Joint Member Secretary and Khulna Divisional Organising Secretary Faridul Haque, Joint Member Secretary Zainal Abedin Shishir, Convener of Jatiya Juboshokti Advocate Tarikul Islam, its Member Secretary Zahidul Islam, and Chief Organiser Farhad Sohel, among others.
