National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament Nahid Islam on Sunday called on his allies to prepare for a renewed mass movement if the government fails to implement long-demanded political reforms.
He made the remarks while chairing a view-exchange meeting at the Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka, organised by the 11-party alliance, where families of July Uprising martyrs and injured fighters were also present.
Nahid Islam said that about two years after the mass uprising, there remains a shared belief that Bangladesh requires fundamental structural reforms. However, he claimed that the current government itself is the main barrier to achieving those changes.
“We had expected that the issues would be resolved through parliament, but that process has effectively failed. Now we must prepare for a mass movement, because without pressure on the streets, reforms will not be implemented,” he said.
He stressed that any future movement would be planned and strategic, saying past failures should not be repeated.
“We cannot afford another unsuccessful or partial outcome. This time the movement will be organised with clear planning,” he added.
The NCP leader further said that reforms are not the property of any single political party but a national necessity, essential for the country’s future stability and progress.
He also pledged that alliance leaders would take responsibility from the front if any confrontation arises, saying they were prepared to face consequences.
During his speech, Nahid Islam accused the ruling political leadership of using the legacy of the July uprising for political advantage.
He claimed that while invoking the sacrifices of martyrs and the spirit of past movements, the government was failing to uphold their core ideals.
He further alleged that the country has regressed politically since the BNP came to power, arguing that earlier reform commitments had been abandoned.
Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance also attended the programme.
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