United News of Bangladesh

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (Southern Region) Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday alleged that the trial of the July killings was becoming a mere formality, accusing the BNP-led government of prioritising power, corruption and the rehabilitation of the Awami League over state reforms. "BNP has July on its lips but Awami League in its heart. This kind of relationship has created unease in the country's politics," he said while speaking at a discussion titled "Trial of the July Massacre: Gap between Political Promises and Reality" at the NCP's central office in Banglamotor in the capital. "We wanted a change in the state structure, where everyone would receive fair and equal treatment. But we saw that only the chairs have changed. Some became MPs, some ministers, some state ministers. Many individuals have changed their positions, but the state structure has not changed," Hasnat said. Alleging links between a section of the BNP and the Awami League, he said there is a difference between BNP leaders and activists who endured torture, cases and imprisonment for over a decade and a half, and the newcomers who joined the party after August 5, 2024. The NCP leader alleged that many BNP leaders and activists who were persecuted during the Awami League's rule are now being sidelined within the party, while a section of newcomers is getting opportunities for business benefits and to extend influence. He, however, did not provide detailed evidence to back the allegations. Questioning the progress of investigations in connection with cases filed over the killings and violence during the July mass uprising, Hasnat said many cases have named large numbers of accused without consulting the victims. “These cases are later being used as a means of extorting money and striking deals,” he alleged. He also raised questions about how many of the cases filed at police stations across Bangladesh have seen charge sheets submitted. “We have repeatedly said: submit charge sheets quickly. File charges against the real culprits and ensure the trial of the Awami League as a party," he said. The NCP leader alleged that the slow pace of investigation and trial is casting doubt over the prosecution of the real perpetrators, and stressed the need to complete investigations swiftly, submit charge sheets and move the trials forward. On the question of the Awami League's trial and political rehabilitation, he said the party must be tried as an organisation, not just its individual members. He alleged that the Awami League has yet to acknowledge its past crimes as a party. Hasnat also criticised the government's economic policy and growth targets, saying the 6.5 percent GDP growth the government talks about is hard to achieve in the current economic reality, where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast growth to fall to 3.42 percent. He also questioned job creation efforts, alleging that members of influential political families are getting more benefits than ordinary people in the distribution of employment and business opportunities. The NCP leader also alleged nepotism in the allocation of dealerships for fertiliser and other commodities, and in government contract works.

The National Citizens' Party (NCP) Tuesday demanded that those involved in the harassment of Professor Muhammad Yunus, former interim government chief adviser, on foreign soil be identified and brought to justice along with the trial of the Awami League as a party. In a statement issued Tuesday, the NCP strongly condemned and protested the incident in which Prof Yunus was surrounded, harassed and targeted with aggressive slogans at John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York. Several fugitive Awami League and Jubo League leaders and activists were seen in the videos and reports published in the media, it said. Among them were New York Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Imdad Chowdhury and US Jubo League General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury. The NCP termed the harassment of a former head of government and globally acclaimed figure on foreign soil as an "anti-state terrorist act". The statement said the fugitive Awami League, despite being ousted through a historic mass uprising, has resorted to insulting and humiliating eminent Bangladeshis abroad. "While the party may consider such acts as politics, the people of Bangladesh view such behaviour as terrorism," it added. The NCP said the incident has once again proved that no reconciliation with the fugitive Awami League is possible. The party demanded that every person who took part in the harassment be identified on the basis of video footage, eyewitness accounts and other relevant information. It also called for legal action against the Awami League and Jubo League leaders named in media reports. Meanwhile, in a separate message to the media, NCP Convener and Chief Whip of the opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad Nahid Islam condemned the incident and demanded that the trial of the Awami League begin as a party. Nahid Islam said those involved in the July mass killings, as well as enforced disappearances and murders during the fascist regime, must be tried and the verdicts executed swiftly. He also urged resistance against the Awami League's network active at home and abroad. The NCP leader said bringing the Awami League to trial as a party is now "the demand of the time". He  said it would consider any talk of reconciliation with the Awami League without ensuring justice a conspiratorial move and an attempt to destabilise the country. Nahid Islam also urged the government to take effective steps to ensure the security of Prof Yunus and other members of the interim government.

Leaders and activists of Jatiya Jubo Shakti, the youth wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), staged a demonstration in front of the Department of Youth Development in Motijheel on Sunday to press home their five-point demand, including the resignation of State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque over an alleged question paper leak in a recruitment examination.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam Saturday expressed firm solidarity with young people in India demanding electoral accountability and defending democratic rights. In a statement issued on Saturday, Nahid said recent detentions of peaceful protesters, organisers and journalists in New Delhi, along with internet suspensions and restrictions at Jantar Mantar, "directly threaten fundamental freedoms." He said concerns over electoral integrity and institutional independence require transparent answers, not barricades and censorship. Drawing parallels with Bangladesh's July 2024 uprising, Nahid said the student-led movement against recruitment quotas turned into a nationwide uprising against 15 years of authoritarian rule. The state responded with live ammunition, he said, adding that the United Nations later estimated as many as 1,400 people were killed during the uprising and its suppression. He recalled the solidarity Indian students, writers and independent voices showed during the uprising. He also paid tribute to India's traditions of democratic resistance, citing the women of Shaheen Bagh and generations of students at JNU and Jadavpur University. Noting the presence of young Indian women on the streets, Nahid said women were also at the forefront of Bangladesh's July Revolution, and their courage and sacrifices helped secure its victory. The NCP convener said Hindutva majoritarianism, fascism and every form of religious supremacy must not define South Asia's future. He said his party rejects authoritarianism, communal hatred and political intolerance in India as it does in Bangladesh. "No society is truly democratic while minorities live in fear, dissent is criminalised, and citizenship is conditional on identity," he said. He called on Indian authorities to: respect the right to peaceful assembly;.disclose the whereabouts and legal grounds for the detention of protest organisers; immediately release those held for exercising their rights; and ensure journalists can report without intimidation or equipment seizure. Referring to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, Nahid said they continue to be kept behind bars for years without trial. He described all of India's young protesters and prisoners of conscience as "comrades." He said the struggles of the two countries are interconnected, extending to unresolved issues such as border killings, water sharing, environmental protection and national sovereignty. He said he wants a South Asia where nations treat each other as equals and "sovereignty is never an excuse for domination." Concluding the statement, Nahid urged the people of India to stand firm, protect one another and reject communal hatred.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Monday condemned an alleged attack by Chhatra Dal leaders and activists on journalists and students at Rajshahi University and demanded immediate action against those responsible. In a statement, the NCP said the attack reportedly followed a dispute over a comment on a Facebook post. According to the statement, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists gathered in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall carrying weapons and attacked journalists covering the incident. The NCP said four journalists — Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal, Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, Arifuzzaman Korban of bdnews24.com and Jahidul Islam of Agamir Somoy — were injured in the attack. It said Jahidul sustained a serious head injury. The party also alleged that the attackers threatened the journalists, including by warning that they would “bury them alive.” The NCP claimed that at least 10 Chhatra Dal leaders and activists took part in the attack, naming University Chhatra Dal Vice-President Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam, Vice-President Shariful Islam and Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam among those allegedly involved. The injured journalists were initially taken to the university medical centre and later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment, the statement said. The NCP criticised the university administration for failing to ensure the safety of students and journalists on campus. It demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and strict action against them under party rules and state law. The NCP also called for measures to ensure the safety of students and media personnel and protect freedom of expression on university campuses.

Hasnat Abdullah, MP for Comilla-4 and chief organiser of the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has said repeated attacks, intimidation and repression will not silence NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary. In a Facebook post reacting to the reported attack on Patwary at the Lalon Akhra in Kushtia, Hasnat said Patwary had once again been targeted in Kushtia, marking the fifth such incident since the BNP government came to power. “No one has ever succeeded in silencing Patwary through such attacks, nor will anyone be able to do so in the future, Insha'Allah,” he said. Hasnat said no obstacle could halt the struggle for justice, rights and freedom, adding that the fight for truth and justice would continue. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary was allegedly attacked and his vehicle vandalised on the premises of Lalon Akhra in Chheuria under Kumarkhali upazila on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 7:15pm, according to police and party sources. Jamal Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station, said police went to the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary was allegedly attacked and his vehicle vandalised on the premises of Lalon Akhra in Chheuria under Kumarkhali upazila on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 7:15pm, according to police and party sources. Jamal Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station, said police went to the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control. Patwary remained confined inside the Akhra for some time following the incident. Police later rescued him and, around 8pm, escorted him to Kumarkhali Police Station with the help of local party activists, where he was expected to file a complaint. According to NCP sources, Patwary was visiting Kushtia on a personal trip. He first visited Rabindranath Tagore’s Kuthibari in Shilaidah and later went to the Akhra in Chheuria. While he was watching a musical performance by local artists and livestreaming it on Facebook, he was allegedly attacked and his vehicle was vandalised, the sources said. Local NCP leaders alleged that the attack and vandalism were carried out under the leadership of Sangram, a member of the Kushtia municipal unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. Mozakkir Rabbi, convener of Kushtia District Chhatra Dal, however, said the organisation did not believe in “mob-style politics”. He said if any Chhatra Dal leader or activist was involved in the incident, that individual would be personally responsible for their actions. NCP Kushtia District Convener Jannatul Ferdous Tony and other local leaders were accompanying Patwary when the incident occurred. NCP Joint Member Secretary Tarek Reza alleged in a social media post that BNP leaders and activists attacked Patwary. A video circulating on social media shows several people chasing Patwary and his associates while shouting, “Catch them, catch them”. However, the authenticity of the video and the identities of those seen in it could not be independently verified. Patwary did not speak to local media about the incident at the time of reporting.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Monday said restoring law and order in the country would not be possible as long as Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed remains in office as he has “failed to fulfill his responsibilities”. “We believe he has already failed. If a person has failed, he cannot and should not remain in charge,” Nahid said at a press briefing following a meeting at the party office in the capital. He said the Home Minister should step down to set an example of accountability within the government. “We have already seen a few reshuffles in the cabinet. So, now he should be removed. An example needs to be set that if someone fails in their duties, they must step down and make way for a successor,” he said. “This will send a message to everyone including the government officials working under him,” he added. Nahid accused the government of failing to rein in its party activists. Referring to the recent demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur and the attack on content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio, he said the incidents reflected the deteriorating law and order situation. He alleged that law enforcement agencies remained inactive during the attacks, raising questions about the government's ability to ensure public safety. “The government had promised that the law and order situation would improve after an elected government came to power. But the situation has deteriorated further,” he said. The NCP leader also accused the government of politicising public recruitment, citing the exclusion of candidates from the primary school teacher recruitment process following police verification. He said qualified candidates should not be disqualified without specific evidence of their involvement in criminal or anti-state activities. Nahid said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent address to the United Nations General Assembly had failed to reflect the expectations and concerns of Bangladeshi people. He said the prime minister missed an opportunity to highlight key national concerns including the ongoing energy crisis, border killings, push-ins from India, the Rohingya crisis and the implementation of the Teesta project. On constitutional reforms, Nahid rejected the government's initiative to form a parliamentary committee to amend the Constitution, arguing that fundamental reforms could not be achieved through the regular amendment process. He called for the immediate convening of the Constitution Reform Council to implement the July National Charter, warning that the NCP would continue its programmes and move towards tougher action if the government fails to do so. Nahid also expressed concern over the proposed Cyber Security Act, alleging that it could curtail freedom of expression and be used to suppress criticism of the government. On the upcoming local government elections, he said the NCP would contest independently and support candidates committed to combating extortion, terrorism and land grabbing. Senior party leaders Akhter Hossen, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Nasiruddin Patwari, among others, were also present at the meeting.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Sunday demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack, vandalism and looting at the Radda MCH-FP Centre in the capital’s Mirpur area and called for a neutral investigation into the incident. He visited the health centre around noon with party leaders and activists, inspecting the sections damaged in the vandalism and looting. Asif spoke with patients who were still receiving treatment at the facility and demanded that the damaged centre be rebuilt and health services restored as soon as possible. During the visit, NCP activists removed a signboard of a shopkeepers' co-operatives society, which was put up in front of the centre. Speaking after the inspection, Asif said the facility had long been providing essential maternal and child healthcare services, including vaccination. “Such destruction of a healthcare facility is completely unacceptable,” he said. He said medicines, vaccines, injections and medical equipment were also looted from the centre. The NCP leader alleged that the incident was not isolated and involved a BNP lawmaker, a city corporation administrator and local police, describing it as an “organised crime” and “state-sponsored looting.” He further alleged that police were present at the scene when the vandalism began but left the spot, returning only after the incident ended. Asif demanded action against those involved in the attack as well as those accused of negligence of duty. He said the Radda clinic will not be allowed to be grabbed, adding that health workers will try to keep maternal and child healthcare services running even amid the debris.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam on Saturday questioned whether any government exists in the country, after a maternal and child healthcare facility, which had served the community for five decades was demolished overnight in the capital. In a statement, Nahid said the razing of the Radda MCH-FP Centre, which had run maternal care and vaccination programmes for 50 years, exposed how fragile the country's law and order situation has become, as vandalism and looting continued through the night while law enforcement remained silent and unmoved. "A country cannot run this way," he said, adding that the demolition and takeover of a hospital in the heart of the capital, carried out like illegal land grabbing, raised public questions over the very existence of a functioning government. Nahid said locals allege that BNP reserved-seat lawmaker Ferdousi Ahmed Misty and an influential leader of Dhaka North BNP were behind instigating the vandalism and occupation of the facility. He further said the home minister's largely inactive role, despite the steady deterioration of law and order over recent days, was a matter of shame for the entire nation. "Our clear demand is that everyone involved in the vandalism and looting at the Radda MCH-FP Centre must be arrested immediately and brought to justice," Nahid said. He also demanded that the masterminds behind the incident be identified and brought under the law, ensuring exemplary punishment for the guilty.