Desk Report,
We will not allow Bangladesh to return to its old ways: Nahid Islam
National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam said, “In July-August, we said, we need a new Bangladesh. We need a new settlement. We will no longer let this Bangladesh be governed by the old system, the old law. But after the coup, various forces are again trying to take the country forward with the old system.”
We will not allow Bangladesh to return to its old ways: Nahid Islam
Nahid Islam said these words at a road meeting organized by the NCP on the outskirts of Moulvibazar city on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of the ‘July March for Nation-Building’. He also said, “When we took to the streets in the July mass uprising, our brothers were martyred. Our sisters were tortured. We will not let this Bangladesh go back to the old path.” Expressing his desire to start the journey of a new Bangladesh through judicial reform and a new constitution, Nahid Islam said, “After the mass uprising, our dreams, our aspirations were sky-high. The youth took to the streets for employment, the people for economic freedom, human dignity, digital freedom. We may have got that freedom, democracy. We have not yet been able to fulfill the demands of economic freedom, employment.’
The roadshow was organized by the Moulvibazar district branch of the NCP. Fahad Alam, the chief coordinator of Moulvibazar, presided over it. Among others, NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain, chief coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary, central joint secretary Pritam Das, among others, spoke. Central joint member secretary Tasnim Zara and other leaders were present at the roadshow.
Regarding the elections, Nahid Islam said, ‘During the interim government, we had many dreams, many demands. But all the dreams have been sent into exile and converted into a single demand. We said, we want elections. We are the force fighting for democracy, the force fighting for voting rights. But without judicial reform, elections will become meaningless. The people will not accept this election.’
The NCP convener, highlighting the tea workers’ movement for fair wages for several days in a row, said, “In Sri Lanka, tea workers get a daily wage of 550 taka. In India, they get a daily wage of 420 taka. In Bangladesh, they get 179 taka. How does a worker live on this money? How will he support his family?” He said, “In the Bangladesh that we desire, tea workers get a fair wage, can ensure the health and education of their children. We want to ensure the rights of all ethnic groups, including tea workers and Khasias.”
Nahid Islam said, “We saw a BBC report in Baniyachang of Habiganj district, where police killings are being made prominent. An attempt is being made to blame our uprising students for this police killing. We want to firmly say that on August 3, we made it clear through one point that our fight has become a fight against Sheikh Hasina’s fascist regime. The quota reform movement was a peaceful movement. Sheikh Hasina’s police, Chhatra League, and terrorist forces opened fire and brutally attacked us, forcing us to take to the path of revolution. We, the peace-loving students and the masses, were forced to resist. To take up sticks. We were forced to struggle against the fascists. We made it clear that this fight is the fight of the people against the fascist state and the fascist forces.’
Before the road meeting, a march was started from the central Shaheed Minar in Moulvibazar. The march ended at the road meeting site across the border via Court Road and Shah Mustafa Road. After the road meeting, the central leaders marched towards Srimangal in Moulvibazar. NCP leaders exchanged views with leaders of small ethnic groups in the conference room of Mohsin Auditorium in Srimangal. At this time, Nahid Islam said, ‘For the last 54 years, we have not been able to build the country. We have not been able to realize our dreams, now the opportunity has come, we want to build that Bangladesh. Where all our ethnicities will have their voices. We are trying to do something good for the people of Bangladesh from our place. We seek your cooperation in the dream of building a new Bangladesh.’
The meeting was attended by NCP Chief Organizer Nasiruddin Patwari, Joint Convener Arpita Shyama Dev, Anik Roy, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Joint Member Secretary Pritam Das, General Secretary of Bangladesh Tea Workers Union Nripen Pal, President of Tea People Indigenous Forum Parimal Singh Baraik, Khasi People Leader Jidison Pradhan Suchiang, Manipuri People Leader Hiranmoy Singh, among others.
