Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nahid Islam has said that the movement for quota reform was transformed into a mass uprising to establish democracy and secure voting rights for the people of Bangladesh.
He stated, “We want elections, we want people’s voting rights, and we want to ensure freedom of expression. But we have said that merely having voting rights or changing one government for another won’t bring any real change to your or my life.”
Nahid Islam made these remarks as the chief guest at a street rally organised by the NCP at Faujdar Moor in Jamalpur town on Monday afternoon.
He added, “Your and my lives will only change if reforms take place – if there are reforms in the economy, education system, and healthcare, and if we can establish true democracy. We need a parliament where power is balanced, where a state isn’t run solely on the prime minister’s orders. We are advocating for that kind of government, that kind of state, and a new country.”
Nahid Islam said, “We have demanded that the July Charter and July Declaration must be issued before August 5. Propaganda is being spread against us, claiming we are trying to sabotage elections or delay them. Had this mass uprising not happened, you wouldn’t even have dreamed of elections.”
He further noted, “If we hadn’t escalated the quota reform movement into a movement to overthrow the government, you would have had to wait another four years under Sheikh Hasina’s rule.”
He also said, “The National Consensus Commission is holding discussions with political parties across Bangladesh to push for reforms. NCP has also participated in this commission. We have stated that we want to participate in the upcoming elections only if fundamental judicial and constitutional reforms are ensured – because justice reform and a new constitution were key demands of the mass uprising.”
Other speakers at the rally included NCP’s Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Zara, Central Joint Member Secretary Lutfor Rahman, and Central Member Masiur Rahman Shuv.
Tasnim Zara said, “The system that allowed security forces to forcibly disappear and kill citizens in past years must be changed. We will not return to a system where the prime minister holds absolute power.”
Earlier, Nahid Islam met with families of local martyrs, visited a Harijan (marginalised community) settlement, and spoke with students at a madrasa.