No place for India or Pakistan-aligned politics in BD: Nahid Islam

NN Online: 

Nahid Islam, the Convenor of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has stated that there will be no place for India or Pakistan-aligned politics in Bangladesh. His remarks came during the closing stages of an event announcing the formation of a new political party.

In his speech, Islam emphasized the need for the establishment of a “Second Republic” in Bangladesh. He said that the recent upheaval in 2024 marked the beginning of the struggle to form this new republic, emphasizing the necessity for a democratic new constitution to end any possibility of constitutional autocracy.

“The establishment of the Second Republic is our primary goal, which will involve the drafting of a new constitution through a constituent assembly election,” Islam declared.

He outlined the key goals for the Second Republic, including a strong defense system to safeguard national interests, a corruption- and nepotism-free political culture, and the protection of the fundamental rights and equal security of all citizens.

Islam stressed that the new independence achieved through the sacrifices of martyrs was not for replacing one government with another, but for dismantling the fascist system entrenched in the state. He added that the people had responded to the upheaval with a desire for a new political order that would be based on the rights of the citizens, aiming to rebuild the state accordingly.

As the event concluded, Nahid Islam asked the audience if they were committed to the creation of the Second Republic, leading to the chanting of slogans like “Inqilab Inqilab, Inqilab Zindabad,” “Power for the People, People for the People,” and “No to Servitude, Yes to the Streets.”

The National Citizens Party was officially declared, with Islam pledging to lead the charge for a new political structure in Bangladesh.