NCP chief wants July Charter execution before polls
Staff Reporter :
The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) seeks visible progress in the trial proceedings of cases related to atrocities committed during the July-August uprising and the implementation of the July Charter before elections take place, the party’s convener, Nahid Islam, said on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference at the NCP headquarter at Banglamotor in the city, he emphasized the distinction between the July Proclamation and the July Charter.
“The July Proclamation reflects the students’ demands, whereas the July Charter, as pledged by the chief adviser, will be shaped by political parties’ commitments to reforms through the National Consensus Commission,” Nahid said.
According to him, the July Charter-rooted in the July movement-is a document the interim government aims to establish in collaboration with political parties and stakeholders to outline key reforms.
During a discussion with visiting US diplomats, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that the interim government would implement parts of the July Charter’s recommendations, while the remaining aspects would be addressed by the next political administration.
He also noted that political parties will formally sign the July Charter after discussions conclude on the reforms proposed by six commissions. “The July Charter will serve as our guiding framework,” he remarked.
On the issue of fielding candidates for all 300 constituencies in the upcoming election, Nahid clarified that the NCP’s immediate priority is meeting the requirements for its official registration as a political party.
“Following the party’s launch, our focus has been on fulfilling registration criteria and expanding our organizational presence. These efforts will intensify after Ramadan. The decision on contesting elections will be made afterward,” he said.
During the press conference, the NCP chief also condemned the recent surge in violence against women, incidents of eve-teasing, and cases of sexual assault.
“Our first general meeting took place today. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a rise in violence against women in various parts of the country, including cases of harassment and rape,” he said.
“I strongly denounce and protest these incidents. On behalf of the NCP, I urge the government to take firm action to ensure women’s safety in public spaces and to bring perpetrators to justice swiftly.”
Nahid also addressed the alleged misinterpretation of his recent Reuters interview by some local media outlets.
“There was a mistranslation of my interview with Reuters. Some reports falsely suggested that I said elections would not be possible this year,” he clarified.
Providing context, he explained, “What I actually said was that, given the current state of law and order and the weakened police force, conducting elections in such a fragile environment would be highly challenging.”
He elaborated that the police administration has not had substantial experience in overseeing fair elections for a long time, and its capacity remains untested. “From that perspective, I emphasized the need for improvements in law enforcement and security conditions before elections are held,” he added.
Regarding the party’s economy, Nahid noted, “I mentioned that our primary support comes from the affluent sections of society.
We are moving towards a crowd funding approach to finance our initiatives, establish our own office, and prepare for the elections.”
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said the party will host an iftar gathering with the families of those killed and injured during the July-August uprising at Suhrawardy Udyan on 10 March.
Additionally, a separate iftar event will take place on 11 March, bringing together prominent figures, business leaders, and other distinguished guests from across the country.