NCP slams govt for ‘complete failure’
The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Thursday accused the government of “complete failure” in governance during its six months in office, alleging that it had failed to implement the referendum verdict, control the deteriorating law-and-order situation, stabilise supplies of electricity, oil, gas and fertiliser, or rein in the prices of essential goods.
The party said the failures had left the administration “disconnected” from the people it governs.
The allegations were made at a press conference at the NCP’s temporary office in Bangla Motor, where the party, a partner in the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, announced a long march from Dhaka to Chittagong on 5 September to press the government over what it described as its failures.
NCP Member Secretary and lawmaker Akhter Hossain said the march would focus on public suffering and the implementation of the referendum verdict, which he claimed the government had ignored despite repeated demands raised by the party in parliament.
He also accused the government of failing to ensure meaningful justice for past repression under the previous regime, saying this had deepened public dissatisfaction with the administration.
Hossain singled out the energy sector for particular criticism, describing the government’s performance as a “complete failure” and accusing it of attempting to conceal supply shortages.
He also criticised the deteriorating law-and-order situation, citing incidents of mugging, robbery and killings that, he said, had left citizens feeling unsafe “nowhere”.
He alleged that partisan influence was spreading across state institutions, including through the appointment of party loyalists as administrators in local government bodies.
Hossain further criticised the scrapping of an ordinance on preventing enforced disappearances and the National Human Rights Commission in favour of what he described as weaker legislation.
Despite announcing the long march, Hossain said the 11-party alliance remained willing to give the government more time, provided it used that time genuinely in the public interest.
He warned that if the government continued to disregard the referendum verdict, failed to control rising prices and lawlessness, and did not address public suffering, it would lose public support.
Organisers also said the number of vehicles taking part in the march had been reduced from an initial target of 5,000-6,000 to around 1,000 because of fuel shortages and rising costs.
March to begin from Motijheel
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary outlined the route and schedule of the march.
The procession will begin at 7am from Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, with an opening rally featuring speeches by senior leaders of the 11-party alliance before the convoy sets off for Chittagong’s historic Laldighi Maidan.
Patwary said the organisers had communicated and consulted with the Inspector General of Police and agreed that the convoy would travel in a single lane to minimise disruption to traffic, including ambulances.
He rejected government claims that the march would consume around 100,000 litres of fuel, saying the number of vehicles had been deliberately reduced to around 1,000 to conserve fuel.
According to the announced schedule, the convoy will hold rallies at Siddhirganj Truck Stand at around 9am, in Comilla at noon, where a lunch break will also be held, in Feni’s Mohipal at around 3pm, and in Mirsarai at around 5pm.
The convoy is expected to reach Laldighi Maidan by 9pm, where organisers expect a mass gathering.
Patwary said three further long marches-to Rangpur, Sylhet, partly by train, and Khulna-were also planned, culminating in a mass rally in Dhaka.
NCP seeks security along route Sarjis Alam, NCP’s chief organiser for the northern region, called on the government and administration to ensure security along the entire route.
He warned against any attempt by ruling-party members to create unrest and blame the opposition.
He said NCP district and upazila units would remain along the route throughout the march and that the public would respond if the procession faced obstruction.
NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib, Joint Conveners Sarwar Tushar and Monira Sharmin, and Jatiya Jubo Shakti Convener Tariqul Islam were also present at the press conference.
