National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Sunday evening outlined a broad reform agenda centred on social justice, economic fairness and accountable governance, while sharply criticising past administrations for what he described as long-standing discrimination and neglect.
In a televised address broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV), Nahid, also a former adviser to the interim government, said ordinary citizens had long been deprived of dignity and fairness.
“For too long, discrimination has been the hallmark of governance. We will replace it with justice,” he said, adding that no citizen should feel like a second-class person in their own country.
Referring to his role as a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, Nahid pledged to dismantle entrenched systems of privilege and ensure equal opportunities for all.
“Our mission is to heal divisions and build a society where compassion is policy, not charity,” he said.
A significant portion of the address focused on social welfare. Nahid promised expanded pension schemes, improved education and universal access to healthcare, describing these as fundamental rights rather than privileges.
“Workers deserve pensions, children deserve quality education, and every family deserves healthcare,” he said, accusing previous governments of neglecting students, workers and vulnerable families.
“That failure was not merely incompetence - it was discrimination against the majority,” he added.
The NCP convener also pledged to strengthen social safety nets, vowing that hunger, unemployment and illness would not be allowed to define people’s lives.
On economic policy, Nahid promised transparent fiscal management and increased investment in infrastructure, agriculture and industry.
“Budgets must serve the people, not the pockets of the powerful,” he said, stressing job creation through skills development, technology and rural industries.
He further pledged to modernise agriculture, support small businesses and ensure inclusive economic growth that benefits all citizens.
Addressing governance, Nahid vowed to root out corruption and strengthen institutions.
“Every taka must be accounted for, and every official held responsible,” he said, emphasising zero tolerance for misuse of power.
He also highlighted the importance of decentralisation, saying development should not be dictated solely from Dhaka and that local communities must have a greater voice.
Unity featured prominently throughout the address, with Nahid calling for bridging divides across class, region and community, and pledging protection of minority rights.
“This election is not just about power,” he said. “It is a choice between injustice and justice, exclusion and inclusion. Together, we can build a Bangladesh where every citizen truly matters.”
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