National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has urged the Election Commission (EC) to announce the election schedule only after all political parties are adequately prepared.
He also cited the health of a key leader of a major political party as a factor to be considered.
Speaking at the NCP’s policy dialogue event in Dhaka on Friday evening, Nahid said the 2024 mass uprising was not aimed at any individual or party, but was a movement against a culture of fascism.
He emphasised that political parties that lead a country to independence also play a critical role in building its institutions. “However, Bangladesh lost that opportunity after independence,” he said, adding that former president Ziaur Rahman, despite coming to power, could not fully advance democratic processes.
Highlighting the importance of reforms, Nahid said democratic and economic reforms are essential for national development. He criticised the country’s politics for being overly dependent on individual leaders, noting that policy changes often follow a change in government, and business groups tend to align with the ruling side.
Nahid reaffirmed NCP’s commitment to its core vision and mission, saying the party would not compromise on democratic and economic reforms.
He added that the anti-discrimination stance of the 2024 uprising had made the movement popular, and that its name was deliberately chosen to reflect this principle.
Reflecting on historical events, Nahid said the 1969 uprising led to the 1970 elections, fulfilling the people’s aspirations, but authorities at the time failed to honour the mandate, leading to war. He warned that failure to uphold the commitments of the 2024 uprising could push the country toward crisis.
Nahid clarified that NCP has not entered into any formal or informal agreements with other parties, dismissing rumors and misinformation. He said the party’s candidate list will be announced soon and confirmed that discussions are ongoing to form a third political alliance. He stressed that the public has little trust in old-guard parties facing allegations, and that NCP aims to pursue a new, reform-oriented political direction.
