NCP will hold programmes in every village of Gopalganj, says Nahid

The NCP leader asks if Gopalganj belongs only to the Awami League

National Citizen Party Convenor Nahid Islam has announced that political programmes will be held in every village of Gopalganj.

He posed a pointed question on Thursday night, “Is Gopalganj only a stronghold of one party, the Awami League?”

Speaking at a street rally at Shaheed Rafiq Chattar in Manikganj town, Nahid responded to critics.

“One group has asked: if we hold a nationwide march, why call it ‘March for Gopalganj’? They claim it justifies the attacks. They ask, why are we going to Gopalganj? (But) Is visiting Gopalganj forbidden?”

The party leaders reached Manikganj on Thursday night after facing clashes and deaths in Gopalganj during their rally the previous day.

The march continued with programmes in Faridpur, Rajbari and then Manikganj.

Addressing supporters, Nahid said the nation must be founded on justice and must be freed from extortion.

“In the new Bangladesh, no single person will hold absolute power. An upper house of parliament must be formed under a system of proportional representation.”

He added, “We do not fear death. When I see the families of our martyrs, I realise our purpose is to secure their rights. We have not come seeking votes.

“We have entered the field with a vision to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh.”

Nahid accused the interim government of failing to prevent Awami League-linked violence against the NCP members.

Raising the question of why they went to Gopalganj, he said: “If Awami League tries to assert itself, revolutionary students and citizens will overthrow them.”

Nahid also spoke out against recent “persecution” of ordinary people, students and religious preachers, saying “many faced oppression simply for practising Islam”.

Addressing the Hindu community, he said: “You are not assets of any party; you are the people of Bangladesh. You deserve equal rights. It is the Awami League that has seized your land.”