United News of Bangladesh

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Thursday demanded the resignation, arrest and trial of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, alleging that he had played a role in the killings during the July uprising. Speaking at a roadside rally at Foujdari intersection in Jamalpur after a party procession, Nahid alleged that President Shahabuddin, whom he described as "an ally of the fascist regime," should not only resign but also be brought under legal proceedings. He claimed the President had indirectly contributed to the killings of students and protesters during the July mass uprising and therefore should face justice. Nahid also called for the appointment of "an honest, neutral and widely acceptable person" as the next president following Shahabuddin's resignation. He said accountability must be ensured for everyone involved in killings and human rights violations if the spirit of the July-August uprising is to be upheld. "No individual or institution is above the law," he said, urging the authorities to take necessary steps to end the culture of impunity. Addressing the rally, NCP Northern Region Chief Coordinator Sarjis Alam said that if the referendum is ultimately declared unconstitutional or illegal, a BNP-led government would also be considered illegitimate. Among others, NCP Joint Member Secretary Lutfor Rahman, National Jubo Shakti Vice-President Hifzur Rahman Bakul, district Member Secretary Dr Mosharraf Hossain and Advocate Shamim Ahmed also spoke at the programme.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam on Wednesday said if the referendum is illegal, then Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and the BNP government will also lose their legitimacy. "If the referendum is illegal, then you, Mr Salahuddin Ahmed, are also illegitimate as the home minister, and so is the BNP government," he said while addressing a public rally at the Baninagar High School ground in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat at night. Sarjis accused both the Awami League and the BNP of corruption in the implementation of large-scale development projects. He alleged that thousands of crores of taka were looted from the Padma Bridge project during the Awami League's tenure and claimed that the BNP is now engaging in similar irregularities through canal excavation projects.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhter Hossen on Tuesday alleged that the BNP government has strayed from its 31-point electoral commitment, including promises of constitutional reforms and implementation of the July National Charter. Speaking at a rally titled "July March to Build the Nation" at Jaldhaka Govt Pilot High School ground in Nilphamari, he claimed that the BNP had promised before the election to implement the July Charter and introduce state reforms but failed to fulfil those commitments even after five months in office. Akhter claimed that the party no longer supports constitutional reforms and has backed away from its promise to ensure voting rights through a new-formula caretaker government. "The BNP is not only rejecting the referendum but is also abandoning its own 31-point commitment," he said, adding that the government wants to retain control over the caretaker government system instead of introducing reforms. The NCP leader also criticised the government's handling of judicial reforms, alleging that it failed to enact legislation for transparent appointments of judges. Referring to the country's economy, he claimed that the debt burden is increasing while the prices of essentials have risen even before the announcement of the national budget. Akhter urged the government to implement the verdict of the referendum and continue state reform efforts. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said northern Bangladesh remained neglected due to a lack of industries and adequate healthcare facilities, stressing the need to implement the referendum outcome. Addressing the rally, NCP Chief Organiser (Norther Region) Sarjis Alam accused leaders of BNP and affiliated organisations of influencing government offices and engaging in irregularities, including tender manipulation. He urged people to remain united against what he described as growing misrule.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain on Saturday called for the full implementation of the referendum verdict. "We have to move away from that framework and formulate a new caretaker government system. The July Charter contains such a proposal," he said while addressing a roadside rally in Fulbari upazila of Dinajpur on the third day of the party's northern region tour under its nationwide road march programme. The MP for Rangpur-4 also alleged that the BNP wanted to retain the old caretaker government formula instead of accepting a new one. He said people had expected a "new Bangladesh" after the mass uprising, where the administration would remain neutral, jobs would be available without bribery and merit would be valued. "People cast two votes – one to form a government and another in the referendum. The government has been formed, but the referendum verdict is not being implemented," he said. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Northern Region Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam, Joint Convener Dr Atik Rahman Mujahid MP, Joint Chief Coordinator Dr Abdul Ahad and other leaders also addressed the rally.

National Krishok Shakti formally launched as the farmers' wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), alongside the announcement of its partial central convening committee aimed at working for farmers' rights. Saeed Ujjwal was named convener, while agriculturist Ghulam Mortuza Selim was appointed member secretary. Nafiul Islam was made chief organiser. Advocate Fakhruddin Ahmed Zaki and Md Abdul Aziz were appointed senior joint conveners, while Mojibur Rahman Khokon and Md Rakibul Hasan Rana were made senior joint member secretaries. The organisation was launched at a farmers' rally held at Togorai Hat High School in Kurigram Sadar on Thursday, a venue associated with Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam announced the partial committee at the event. The rally was chaired by Kurigram-2 MP and NCP Joint Convener Dr Atik Mujahid and moderated by Ghulam Mortuza Selim. NCP Member Secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain addressed the gathering as the chief speaker. Mother of July martyr Rajib, Jannatul Ferdous, and July movement participant Ariful Islam also spoke at the programme. Reading out the organisation's declaration, Convener Saeed Ujjwal said National Krishok Shakti would move forward with the slogan "Krishoker Shokti, Jatiyo Mukti" (Farmers' Strength, National Liberation). He said farmers are not merely food producers but also the foundation of Bangladesh's economy and one of the country's principal political forces. Referring to the Indigo Revolt, the Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion, Titumir's Bamboo Fort movement, the Tonk Movement, the Krishak Praja Party, the Tebhaga Movement and Maulana Bhashani's peasant politics, he said these historical struggles centred on land ownership, production rights and farmers' dignity in the state. However, he said that after independence, farmers were gradually pushed away from the centre of politics and confined only to production. Ujjwal said responsibility for ensuring the country's food security rests with farmers, yet they have no effective representation in formulating agricultural, market, pricing or land policies. He further said Bangladesh's economy stands on three major labour forces, the labour of farmers in the fields, the labour of migrant workers, most of whom are farmers' sons, and the labour of garment workers, many of whom are farmers' daughters. These three groups, he said, are the principal pillars of foreign exchange earnings, food security and the national economy, yet rural farming communities remain among the most neglected in state policies and political power structures. At the rally, Member Secretary Ghulam Mortuza Selim presented a 14-point Farmers' Rights Charter, calling for constitutional recognition of farmers as a political community and national force, effective political representation at national and local levels, and fair pricing for agricultural products based on production costs, labour and reasonable profit. The charter also demanded direct government procurement of farm produce, effective measures against market syndicates and middlemen, universal agricultural insurance to compensate for climate-related losses, region-based agricultural policies covering haor, coastal, char, hill, Barind and floodplain areas, and stronger protection of indigenous seeds to reduce dependence on multinational companies. It further called for affordable access to quality seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, electricity, diesel and agricultural machinery, strict action against adulterated farm inputs, establishment of modern cold storage facilities, warehouses, collection centres and processing units, and a state-supported marketing system enabling farmers to sell directly in the market.

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), held a coffin procession and solidarity rally on Friday demanding justice for the July massacre and commemorating those killed during the movement. The procession began after Friday prayers from the premises of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Dhaka University. It passed through Madhur Canteen, Mall Chattar and VC Square before ending with a brief rally at the foot of the Raju Memorial Sculpture.  

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Thursday alleged that the current government has failed to eliminate the longstanding regional and economic disparities affecting Bangladesh's northern districts. He also claimed that the government's handling of the proposed Teesta Mega Project reflected the same discriminatory approach, saying the Prime Minister's recent visit to China yielded no significant progress on the Teesta issue. Nahid made the remarks while addressing a farmers' rally as the chief guest at Togoraihat Bimukhi High School ground in Kurigram town in the afternoon. The rally was organised to mark the launch of the central committee of Jatiya Krishak Shakti, an associate body of the NCP. He alleged that the government had deliberately deprived Kurigram and the greater Rangpur region of adequate development allocations because most parliamentary seats in the northern districts are represented by opposition lawmakers. "No major budget has been allocated for this region, and it has been neglected in large-scale national development plans. We will not accept such discrimination," he said. Recalling the July mass uprising, Nahid said the people of northern Bangladesh had made significant sacrifices for democracy. "The brave son of this region, Abu Sayeed, was among the first to sacrifice his life during the July movement. People here have repeatedly exercised their democratic right to elect their representatives through struggle, yet they continue to be neglected in terms of development," he said. Criticising the government's initiatives for farmers, Nahid said the proposed farmer card programme would not adequately address the real needs of the agricultural community. "We are not opposed to the farmer card itself, but the limited financial benefits it offers are insufficient. There is also a risk of corruption in its distribution, and there is no guarantee that genuine farmers will receive the benefits instead of supporters of political organisations," he alleged. Following the rally, the NCP announced a seven-member partial central committee of its newly launched associate body, Jatiya Krishak Shakti. Among others, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Kurigram-2 MP Dr Atikur Rahman and Kurigram district NCP Convener Mukul Mia also addressed the programme. The speakers called for an end to regional disparities in development policies and demanded measures to ensure the legitimate rights of farmers.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday said ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has no legal avenue left to appeal her death sentence in a case filed for committing crimes against humanity during the July 2024 mass uprising, and the verdict must now be implemented. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Smritigathay Julai Biplober Dinguli” (Memories of the Days of the July Revolution), organised by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti's Dhaka University unit at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium to mark the 2nd anniversary of the July uprising. Hasina will return 'only to face execution of verdict': Nahid Islam Referring to a recent interview in which Hasina said she would return to Bangladesh and surrender in December, Nahid, also opposition chief whip, said, “Whether Sheikh Hasina comes in December or any other time is something the Bangladesh government must determine. But the moment she arrives, she must be arrested from the airport and her verdict must be executed.” He noted that the government has already made it clear that there is no scope for Hasina to surrender on her own, though he accused Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed of leaving a deliberate ambiguity, a "trap", by suggesting the question of appeal would be left to the legal process. “There is no scope for appeal. The verdict against Sheikh Hasina allowed 30 days for appeal, and no one filed one on her behalf within that period. So, there is no scope for any appeal in her case now,” the NCP leader said, adding that his party wants visible progress on the trial from the government. Turning to campus issues, he called for resolving DU’s electricity crisis, waterlogging problems, and student welfare concerns, while urging a democratic environment on campus. Nahid also questioned the process for appointing the university's vice chancellor, saying DU and other autonomous universities need a transparent and participatory selection process for VCs and teachers to build research-based, democratic institutions. On the events of July 15, he demanded that a list of those involved in attacks that day in 2024 be published and that action be taken against them, along with any teachers accused of endorsing or legitimising the violence. As part of the 2nd anniversary observance, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti's DU unit also organised a drawing competition for children, with prizes distributed to the winners after the discussion.

Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament for the Comilla-4 constituency and chief organizer of the southern region for the National Citizen Party (NCP), stated on Friday night that politics must be freed from the clutches of rogue individuals. "Politicians do not take any action against drug dealers. When commodity prices increase in the market, politicians remain silent," he remarked while addressing a road march and rally at Raipur  upazila in Lakshmipur as the chief guest around 10:30 pm. Hasnat Abdullah claimed that prior to elections, politicians collect extortion money from business syndicates to fund their campaign activities. "Consequently, when those same business syndicates increase the prices of essential goods against the public interest after the election, politicians wear wooden spectacles and remain busy solely singing the praises of the Prime Minister in parliament," he said. The NCP leader also criticized the constraints faced within the legislature. "When we want to speak in parliament, the Speaker tells us that it is not Shahbagh Square, it is parliament. There is no need to think that we will only speak inside parliament. If you do not allow us to speak there, we will speak outside. We will speak near the people. You cannot keep us away from speaking."

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nahid Islam on Friday said that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would return to Bangladesh only for the execution of a death sentence verdict against her. He made the remarks while addressing an event organised by the National SME Foundation marking International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day 2026 at the Diploma Engineers Institute in the capital's Kakrail. The programme featured an award ceremony and discussion session honouring successful small entrepreneurs. Govt must implement referendum verdict to prove its commitment to July uprising: Nahid Islam Speaking as the chief guest, Nahid Islam said, "Today we watched an interview where someone said that they are planning to return to the country in December. Our demand is that the country has already suffered from 16 years of destruction. Now we also want her to return, to face the execution of the death sentence verdict." He said a verdict has already been delivered in Bangladesh and the government should bring back the "perpetrator of genocide" through proper diplomatic and legal processes and execute the verdict. Replying to journalists after the event, Nahid said it is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to decide how Sheikh Hasina will return, who she will come with, and whether she will surrender. "The Bangladesh government will discuss the matter with Delhi. There is no other party involved here. The government will decide when and how to bring her back and how the verdict will be executed. She must be brought back with all necessary preparations," he said. Nahid further said Sheikh Hasina's decisions are not solely personal decisions, claiming that she speaks according to what is permitted from Delhi. "Whether Sheikh Hasina will return or not, how she will return, and whether she will face trial, all these issues depend on the diplomatic and political understanding between Dhaka and Delhi. Sheikh Hasina or the Awami League is no longer a political party," he said. Saying that participants of the July uprising are prepared to face any situation, Nahid said, "Those who took part in the July mass uprising are politically prepared to deal with any situation. We are ready for any circumstances to protect the country's independence, sovereignty and economy." He warned that if there is any attempt to create political tension centring on Sheikh Hasina or the Awami League, and if the government supports such efforts, the government itself will suffer the most. "The people of Bangladesh, all forces involved in the July uprising, around 30,000 injured people and families of 1,400 martyrs — we are all prepared," he said. Regarding the trial of the Awami League, Nahid said the government is considering bringing the party as an organisation under judicial proceedings. "We believe this is the right path. The verdict against Sheikh Hasina has already been delivered. Now it has to be executed. If Sheikh Hasina returns to the country, she will return only for the execution of the death sentence verdict. Therefore, we also want the verdict to be implemented," he said. Entrepreneurs from across the country attended the event, where officials of different organisations and entrepreneurs also delivered speeches.