The National Citizen Party (NCP) has declared its opposition to holding the next parliamentary election in February without first implementing major political reforms and introducing a new constitution.
The party’s top leaders made the remarks on Tuesday at a rally organised by Jatiya Juboshakti to mark the 2025 National Youth Conference, held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Institute in Dhaka.
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari warned that an election under the current constitution and political system would betray those who sacrificed their lives during last year’s movement.
“If the election is held in February without reforms and a new constitution, the government should return the bodies of my brothers who were martyred. Otherwise, even if the election date is announced, it will not take place,” he said.
Calling the Bangabhaban “the last factory of fascism,” he urged the youth to bring about its downfall.
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain stressed that a “new Bangladesh” must be free from fascism.
He added, “If the reform proposals we submitted to the Consensus Commission are not implemented, we must prepare to return to the streets.
“The July Charter must be given legal recognition, and elections must be held on that basis. The people will not accept an election bypassing reforms.”
NCP Convener Nahid Islam reiterated that while some compromises could be made on the July Declaration, “There will be no compromise on the July Charter.”
He warned that failure to preserve the unity forged during the mass uprising could risk “another 1/11 scenario.”
Hasnat Abdullah, the party’s Chief Organiser for the country’s southern region, said the government must be held accountable for its actions over the past year and clarify its plans for the remainder of its term.
He called for transparency in the administration, media, and military, adding, “Without reforms, we do not want an election like before.”
Presiding over the rally, Jatiya Juboshakti President Tarikul Islam was joined by senior leaders, including Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara and Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam, all of whom echoed the stance that no election would be accepted without reforms.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, also speaking at the event, criticised the continued reliance on “Delhi and Pindi slogans” decades after independence, calling it a sign of “inferiority” and urging the adoption of a purely Bangladeshi political narrative.
BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie praised the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for embodying the spirit of youth, saying the July movement had shown how to resist Sheikh Hasina.
He called for “steel-like unity” and urged all parties to set aside differences and self-interest to work together.
Warning of external attempts to destabilise the country, Annie alleged that groups were trying to use “teen gangs” from neighbouring countries to create unrest.