Photo: Collected
The newly-formed National Citizen party (NCP) will soon launch a movement demanding justice for the July-August uprising violence, reforms, new constitution and the Constituent Assemby elections. The party's Convener Nahid Islam made the announcement during an Iftar programme with the families of the uprising victims at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka today (10 March).
"Everyone is telling us not to engage in politics of deferring the national elections. But we want to counter that you should not engage in politics of postponing justice and reforms," he said, referring to calls by political parties for national elections.
"Cooperate in ensuring justice and reforms. We will [help] make arrangements for your elections. I will ask the government to announce a roadmap for speedy justice and reform," he added. The NCP chief said his party does not want to depend on anyone to implement the aspirations of the July uprising. "That is why we will make it possible from the ground. If elections are held without the trial of the murderer Hasina, what hope is there that the Awami League will not be brought back?" he noted.
He also stated that the NCP is not against elections. "We have formed the party to participate in elections. [But first] we want to see visible action towards justice and reforms." Also speaking on the occasion, NCP Senior Joint Convener Tasnim Zara also doubled down on the importance of state reforms.
"We talk about reform not just to move from one regime to another, but because we want to see a new Bangladesh by changing the entire governance structure," she said. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary reiterated the party's plan to wage the movement.
"We will take to the streets again to demand trials for Sheikh Hasina and her associates, businessmen, teachers, MPs and ministers. The constitution that has caused so many brothers to be injured and killed must be repealed and a new constitution written."We will take to the streets to demand justice, reform and a new constitution."
The party's Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain demanded the extradition of Hasina from India. "Hasina, who ordered all the murders, is conspiring from India. On behalf of the injured and martyrs, we demand that she be brought back and tried as soon as possible," he said.
"The institutions of Bangladesh have been weakened in the last 54 years. We want the interim government to take the initiative to implement the recommendations for reform," he also said, adding that they will continue to wage movement demanding Hasina's trial.
Messenger/JRTarek
