Nahid Islam: Justice, Reform, and a New Constitution Essential for Bangladesh's Future

Convener of National Citizens Party (NCP) Nahid Islam has said the nation must achieve three core demands  - -  justice, reform, and a new constitution - - to build a new Bangladesh. "We are fighting to build a new Bangladesh where there will be no more discrimination, fascism, injustice, extortion, terrorism. Students and youth must come forward to build this new country upholding the spirit of the July Uprising," he said. Nahid Islam said this during rallies, road-shows and public exchanges during the NCP's recent tours of all eight districts of Rangpur division from July 1 to July 4 as part of a month-long programme titled 'July Walkathon for Building the Nation'. Hundreds of people, including students, youth and workers, who gathered spontaneously everywhere at these events, pledged their commitment to Nahid Islam to support the NCP's nation-building efforts to build a discrimination-free country. A wonderful atmosphere was created when Nahid Islam and the central leaders of the NCP interacted with the rural people, including farmers, workers, and shopkeepers, in various places in Rangpur division, 

Led by Nahid Islam, central leaders of NCP began it's countrywide July walkathon to mark the anniversary of the July Uprising by visiting the grave of martyred Abu Sayeed in his village Babanpur under Pirganj upazila of Rangpur on July 1. After visiting the grave, the central NCP leaders spoke to the family members including the parents of martyred Abu Sayeed and inquired about their whereabouts. At this time, Nahid Islam expressed determination to work to build the new Bangladesh of Abu Sayeed's dream through the month-long July walkathon across the country. At a press conference during the visit,  Nahid Islam said the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed on July 16 last year had played a decisive role in the fall of the dictatorship. Abu Sayeed embraced martyrdom on July 16 and the movement instantly turned into a mass explosion. “We were at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka city. At that time, we heard that Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed had been shot dead by the police," he added.

Then the whole of Bangladesh erupted in mourning and indomitable protest. Instantly, the movement took a different turn following the martyrdom of Abu Sayeed. Thousands of young students and the public took to the streets against fascism. After martyrdom of Abu Sayeed, the anti-discrimination movement sparked across the country that eventually turned into mass-uprising that toppled fascist Sheikh Hasina. "We will highlight the dreams and aspirations for which martyred Abu Sayeed sacrificed his life. So, we started the walkathon by visiting the grave of martyred Abu Sayeed in his village in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur to build a New Bangladesh," he added. He said, "Our July walkathon is basically for molding the nation. Through the walkathon, we will go to all 64 districts across the country. We will talk to the people. We will listen to their words and aspirations." Nahid Islam said the NCP will remain steadfast in materializing the July Declaration and Charter and the delay that has started with the July Declaration will not be tolerated.

"To build a new Bangladesh, we must move towards a new constitution through trial, reform and a Constituent Assembly. We want to warn those who think that thousands of people who came out on the streets have returned home," he said. On the same day while addressing a brief rally at Gaibandha Municipal Park premises, Nahid Islam said the emergence of any new culture of fear in the country would not be allowed. "Our fear was shattered back in 2024 through overthrowing fascist Sheikh Hasina in 2024. We will not allow a new culture of fear in the country," he said, urging the people to raise their local problem fearlessly. While addressing a rally at Rangpur city on the night of July 1, Nahid Islam said Rangpur's rebellion history inspires NCP leaders and activists and youth to dream of a new Bangladesh as the history of Rangpur was a history of rebellion. "Rangpur has given rise to rebellions time and again. Starting from the Rangpur peasant rebellion, the sacrifice of the peasant son Abu Sayeed has inspired us in the movement. We keep the history of the struggle of the oppressed peasants in mind," he said.  

"Abu Sayeed himself encouraged us by sacrificing his life, sparking the July movement from Rangpur to give our lives against the fascist regime," he said. Nahid Islam said, "During the month-long walkathon, we will highlight martyred Abu Sayeed's dreams and aspirations, the dreams of July Uprising, for which he gave his life. A new political settlement must be established through a new constitution," he said Addressing street rallies, interacting with people and exchanging pleasantries at Mustafi Mour Bus Stand in Lalmonirhat on July 2, Nahid Islam and other leaders of the July Uprising were cordially welcomed by students, youth, farmers, laborers and shopkeepers. When Nahid Islam sought their cooperation in building a new Bangladesh free from discrimination, they spontaneously pledged to support his nation-building efforts and vision of a non-discriminatory state for all people. At a rally organized in Kurigram on July 2, Nahid Islam said that the progress of marginalized communities is the key to real development. However, the people of Kurigram have always been oppressed.

"We will not accept any delay in the Teesta Master Plan implementation. This plan must be implemented so that Kurigram is not neglected," he said and urged cooperation from all to build a new Bangladesh. Nahid Islam at a street rally at Nilphamari on July 3 said the nation must advance towards elections through comprehensive structural reforms. He said, “The constitution shaped by the Awami League and Mujibist ideologies must be discarded as such documents have failed to uphold our rights and protect our human dignity." At separate rallies in Panchagarh on July 3, Nahid Islam said the students-people didn’t take to the streets just for a change of power rather the mass uprising took place with the dream of building a new Bangladesh. He said, “We want to see a politics in Bangladesh that is truly for the citizens. After the July Uprising, we no longer want to live like slaves. We want to live with equal rights. NCP will do politics for the citizens. It will ensure the rights of citizens.”  At a rally on July 4 at Thakurgaon, Nahid Islam said called for eliminating regional disparities and carrying out development work in all areas together.

"This is not the Bangladesh of Sheikh Hasina, but it is the Bangladesh of mass uprising. We consider the country's people as the only power to achieve justice, reforms and the new charter," he added. At a rally in Dinajpur on July 4, Nahid Islam reiterated the NCP's commitment to eradicating economic and regional disparities in Bangladesh and called for a balanced distribution of production and resources across the country. "We want to permanently eliminate economic and regional inequality from Bangladesh," he said, and highlighted the plight of farmers in Dinajpur-one of the country's major grain-producing regions," he said. "There has been a delay in announcing the July Declaration, but it must be formally incorporated into the constitution. The sacrifices of those who were martyred and injured must be officially recognized," he added.