National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Md Nahid Islam on Monday said the current government’s legitimacy originates from the July mass uprising, warning that it would be questioned if the July Charter is not implemented.
“This government did not come to power out of thin air. It was not formed through a conventional constitutional process. Its legitimacy comes from the July mass uprising,” he said while addressing an iftar and prayer event organised by the NCP’s Khulna divisional unit at Khulna District Stadium.
Nahid also said the legitimacy of the interim government had similarly stemmed from the popular uprising.
He warned that if the government avoids implementing the July Charter citing the old constitution, its legitimacy would become questionable.
Referring to the presence of leaders and activists from various political parties on the same stage, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP, Nahid said the July uprising made such unity possible.
“Because of the July mass uprising we are able to stand on the same stage today. We are here on the blood of hundreds of martyrs,” he said.
Among the invited guests at the iftar mahfil were Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, Khulna-2 MP Advocate Sheikh Zahangir Hossain Helal, Khelafat Majlis Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Sakhawat Hossain, and leaders of the 11-party alliance in Khulna division, including Jamaat’s Hindu wing leader Krishna Nandi.
Special guests included NCP Chief Organiser for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, National Youth Shakti Convener Advocate Tarikul Islam, and National Student Shakti President Zahid Ahsan, along with central and divisional leaders.
The programme was chaired by NCP Joint Member Secretary and Khulna divisional organising secretary Faridul Haque.
Speaking at the event, Nasiruddin Patwary said people in Khulna had eagerly waited to vote for the party’s symbol “Shapla Koli,” but the party could not field candidates there.
He said the party would try to nominate candidates in every constituency in future local government elections.
Criticising the Rampal coal-fired power plant, he urged the government to shut it down, alleging that the project had been set up during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in cooperation with India.