National Citizen’s Party (NCP) leaders began their rally from a gathering at the Circuit House in Faridpur followed by a march towards the Janata Bank intersection in the city on Thursday.
Earlier, the NCP leaders arrived at the Circuit House in Faridpur around 1:40 pm, ahead of a scheduled rally as part of their ongoing July movement programme. The city has been placed under a heavy security blanket in anticipation of the event.
Faridpur Superintendent of Police Abdul Jalil said, “Security measures have been taken surrounding the NCP’s road march. Law enforcement will remain on highest alert, with police, intelligence agencies, RAB, Coast Guard, and the army on standby.”
A stage was set up at the rally site in the morning, where local supporters have already begun to gather. The rally will be presided over by NCP Central Member and Faridpur Coordinator Syeda Nilima Dola.
Speaking to the media, Dola said the party had to revise its itinerary slightly following Wednesday’s programme in Gopalganj. She said the central convoy crossed Jessore earlier in the day before entering Faridpur and taking position at the Circuit House. From there, they will walk to the rally venue, deliver speeches, inaugurate the district party office, and later visit the July martyrs’ graves in Alipur cemetery to offer prayers and meet their families.
The delegation includes Convener Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari, Southern Region Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, Northern Region Coordinator Sarjis Alam, and central leaders Samanta Sharmin, Dr Tasnim Jara, and Nahida Sarwar Niva. Around 160 leaders and activists are accompanying the group.
Faridpur Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asaduzzaman confirmed that more than 500 law enforcement personnel have been deployed in and around the rally venue. RAB, Coast Guard, and army units are also patrolling the area to ensure security.
Meanwhile, earlier reports said, National Citizen Party (NCP) will continue its campaign across Gopalganj despite recent violence, NCP convener Nahid Islam declared this, vowing that the district will no longer belong to “Mujibists,” but to those who stand for Bangladesh.
In a Facebook post from his verified page on Thursday, Nahid said, “We will return to Gopalganj. As long as we are alive, we will organise programmes in every village of every upazila in Gopalganj. The flag of the July uprising will be raised in every household. Gopalganj will not belong to the Mujibists; it will belong to the pro-Bangladesh people.”
Reiterating the NCP’s ideological stance, he added, “We made a commitment that we would go to Gopalganj—and we did. We pledged on the blood of the martyrs that we will not allow Mujibism to take root in Gopalganj or anywhere in Bangladesh.”
Nahid clarified that his party harbours no bias against the people of Gopalganj, stating, “We oppose political discrimination against the residents. The Awami League has endangered their lives, distorted the Liberation War, and alienated the Hindu community. We have said clearly—we will change this reality.”
He sharply criticised attempts to rebrand the ruling party following the July uprising, saying, “Despite the bloodshed caused by the Awami League, some tried to repackage it into a ‘refined’ version after 5 August. They must remember—the Awami League is no longer a political party, it is a terrorist organisation.”
Regarding the NCP’s latest programme in Gopalganj, Nahid said the party received administrative and security clearance despite initial disruption. “We did not hold a road march—only a street rally. Yet people from various upazilas were prevented from joining. Buses were blocked at multiple checkpoints. Even so, we peacefully concluded our event.”
He alleged that after the rally ended, NCP leaders and activists were attacked by armed members of the ruling party. “We left the area under instructions from the security forces. But on our way out, we were ambushed by Awami League militants.”
Calling for justice, Nahid demanded an impartial probe into Wednesday’s violence, which he claimed resulted in four deaths. “We do not support or tolerate extrajudicial killings. Legal action must be taken against all terrorists. Had the administration and intelligence agencies acted in time, this situation could have been avoided.”