National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has warned that any attempt to revive what he described as “Awami League-style politics” would not be accepted in Bangladesh, calling for restraint, accountability and a genuinely level playing field as the country navigates its post-uprising political transition.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at the party’s Fakirapul office in the Dhaka-8 constituency, Nahid said repeated incidents of intimidation and violence against political candidates risk undermining democratic norms if left unchecked.
“We do not want a situation where one party’s candidates are attacked today and another’s tomorrow,” he said. “The continued silence of the Election Commission and the police administration is creating confusion and insecurity.”
His remarks came amid allegations that Nasiruddin Patwary, the NCP’s chief coordinator and candidate in Dhaka-8, was obstructed and attacked while attending a public event earlier in the day. According to Nahid, Patwary was targeted with bricks and stones when he arrived at Habibullah Bahar College as an invited guest.
The NCP leader also referenced an earlier incident involving Ariful Islam Adib, an NCP candidate in the Dhaka-18 constituency, who was reportedly attacked during campaign activities.
Nahid further claimed that women activists affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami had faced attacks in several districts over recent days. He alleged that a particular political group was benefiting electorally by violating the code of conduct, while what he described as administrative inaction was eroding the principle of equal competition.
Referring to the broader political landscape following the mass uprising, Nahid said the movement had created a rare opportunity to reshape political culture around democratic values, accountability and respect for dissent.
“After such an uprising, political forces should have reflected, sought forgiveness where necessary and committed to a new beginning,” he said. “Selective use of history does not strengthen democracy.”
He stressed that the NCP was not focused on revisiting past conflicts but was instead committed to ensuring that the upcoming election was free, fair and impartial. Democratic struggles in Dhaka and elsewhere, he added, must continue through peaceful and constitutional means.
Nahid described the recent incidents as deeply troubling, saying that denying or downplaying them would only worsen the situation. He alleged that known activists were involved in the attacks and urged authorities to take swift and responsible action.
“Preaching democracy on public platforms while suppressing opponents through intimidation is unacceptable,” he said. “Post-uprising Bangladesh will not tolerate political coercion.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Nasiruddin Patwary was subjected to an egg attack while attending a cultural programme in the Ramna area of the capital. The incident took place around 12:15pm at Habibullah Bahar College, where he had arrived to participate in a ‘Pitha Utsob’ event, according to party sources.
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