Targeted killings underway to thwart election, undermine mass uprising: Nahid

NN ONLINE:

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Md Nahid Islam today said leaders, activists and participants of the mass uprising are being targeted and killed as part of a plan to sabotage the upcoming election and undermine the movement.

“Those who became the faces, heroes, leaders and participants of the mass uprising are being deliberately targeted ahead of the polls,” he told reporters after paying tribute to the martyred intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur this morning, marking the National Intellectual Martyrs’ Day.

“As the election draws nearer, an atmosphere of fear is being created,” Nahid said. Referring to recent incidents, he said the entire nation witnessed the attack on Osman Hadi, but those involved in the attempted killing have yet to be arrested. He demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers and their prosecution.

“Those involved in planning and organising these attacks—whether within the administration or inside and outside the government—must be identified and brought to book,” he said.

Calling for unity, the NCP convener said political parties are blaming each other over the incidents, but this is not the time for division. “If we remain divided, fascist forces will benefit the most,” he said, urging the maintenance of a minimum level of national unity to preserve a congenial environment for a free and fair election and to continue the democratic journey. Nahid also reflected on Martyred Intellectuals Day, recalling that on the eve of victory in the 1971 Liberation War, pro-liberation writers, artists, journalists and professionals were systematically killed to prevent Bangladesh from emerging as a dignified nation.

He said that over the past 54 years, the struggle to realise the aspirations of the Liberation War has continued, requiring renewed sacrifice during the 2024 uprising. He alleged that in different phases of Bangladesh’s political history, a section of intellectuals stood with the people, while another aligned against them.

“Even after August 5, we saw attempts in the name of intellectualism to create consent against July and in favour of repression,” he said, adding that people-oriented intellectuals have always existed and will continue to speak out. “The struggle for freedom of thought and cultural freedom is inseparable from political freedom,” Nahid said, adding that remembering the martyred intellectuals with respect also means upholding their aspirations.

He expressed hope that politicians and intellectuals of the present time should carry forward the spirit of the historic struggles of 1947, 1971 and 2024 to build Bangladesh as a self-respecting state. Reiterating his demands, Nahid called for the swift arrest and trial of the attackers and for identifying all masterminds behind the attack, while maintaining a united anti-fascist front. Leaders and activists of the NCP were also present on the occasion.