National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on Wednesday said the Awami League’s politics had been permanently ended in Bangladesh through the mass uprising.
“The fascist Awami League was defeated on August 5. The people of Bangladesh, students and young people sacrificed their lives and shed blood to overthrow fascism,” he said.
He alleged that the Awami League’s recent activities were part of diplomatic efforts by a neighbouring country to keep Bangladesh under pressure.
Nahid made the remarks while talking to journalists at Rajbari Pourashava auditorium around 12:30pm, ahead of a meeting with party leaders and activists from five districts in the greater Faridpur region over the upcoming local government elections.
He said the struggle against the Awami League was ideological and would continue against those he described as remnants of fascism.
“Fascist forces, authoritarian elements and new extortionists and corrupt groups are now becoming intertwined,” he said.
Nahid expressed doubt that the upcoming local government elections would be held peacefully, alleging that hundreds of people had been killed or injured in infighting within the ruling party.
He also alleged that the Election Commission and police administration had been politicised, making a fair election difficult under the current circumstances.
He said the 11-party alliance would submit specific proposals to the Election Commission to ensure fair local government elections.
Commenting on remarks by the Inspector General of Police concerning journalists, Nahid said journalists had performed their duties by publishing accurate information and that legal measures were available if any report was found to be incorrect.
He said the police chief or other responsible officials should not make such remarks against journalists.
Nahid also alleged that police, administration officials and political leaders were involved in drug syndicates, saying the crime could not be eliminated without dismantling the networks and ensuring accountability.
The meeting was organised by the NCP’s Rajbari district unit, with participation from leaders and activists from Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts.
NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary and Political Council member Sarjis Alam spoke as the chief speaker.
He said the party had launched region-based coordination meetings under Nahid Islam’s leadership and was working to form NCP convening committees in all 4,600 unions across the country by November 30.
The party was also screening candidates for chairman posts in unions where it had support, he said, adding that candidates were being selected at district, upazila and union levels.
Sarjis alleged that the ruling party was obstructing the NCP’s organisational activities in different parts of the country, preventing the administration from taking action in some cases.
NCP Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, Organising Secretary Abdullah Mohammad Hossain, Assistant Organising Secretary for Dhaka Division (South) Hasibur Rahman Apu, and Publicity and Publications Secretary Syed Jamil attended the meeting as special guests.