Dhaka, Dec 16: National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Tuesday said the safety of July fighters cannot be guaranteed by relying on the government or the police, stressing the need for self-reliance and grassroots organisation to protect activists.
Speaking to journalists after paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar on the occasion of Victory Day, Nahid said people must remain vigilant, recalling that security was ensured by citizens themselves after August 5 when there was no effective government or police presence.
Describing the upcoming national election as a referendum on reforms, Nahid said the NCP would seek a public mandate to take Bangladesh forward on a reformist path and vowed that the country would not be returned to the situation that existed before August 5.
He accused what he termed “fallen and fascist forces” of attempting to destabilise the country and sabotage the election process, warning that such efforts would fail in the face of public unity.
Nahid also criticised the authorities for failing to arrest those involved in the attempted killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent MP aspirant, saying those who opened fire on him have yet to be brought to justice.
Reflecting on the country’s history, Nahid said that despite independence achieved through the Liberation War of 1971, the promises of equality, human dignity and social justice remain unfulfilled even after 54 years. He described the 2024 mass uprising as a revolution against fascism and said the NCP sees itself as the successor to the historic struggles of the Bengali people from 1947 to 1971 and from 1971 to 2024.
Extending Victory Day greetings, he paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, including the contributions of women, youth, farmers and ordinary citizens, and called for unity among the people and youth of Bangladesh to protect democracy, stability and the country’s future.
