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Published : 30 Apr 2026, 06:00 PM
Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has alleged the current Bangladesh Bank governor was appointed to help reschedule massive loans for ruling party lawmakers.
Participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion for the president’s speech, the National Citizen Party (NCP) convenor claimed that nearly 60 percent of the ruling party’s election candidates are debt-ridden.
"The governor's expertise lies in loan rescheduling,” he said.
“For the first time in Bangladesh’s history, a businessman has been appointed to this post solely to grant favours to those burdened by thousands of crores in debt," Nahid told the House, presided over by Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.
In a defiant stance, Nahid said he had neither "read nor listened" to President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s speech, arguing that the president lacks the moral right to remain in Bangabhaban.
He demanded the president’s arrest, accusing him of being a "collaborator of genocide" and an "accomplice of fascism".
Nahid alleged that during Shahabuddin’s tenure at the Anti-Corruption Commission, he was tasked with punishing Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman while clearing Awami League of the Padma Bridge graft allegations.
Responding to criticism over taking an oath under the president, Nahid explained it was a strategic necessity for stability after the BNP rejected the proposal for a national government on Aug 5, 2024.
Nahid described the 1972 Constitution as "inherently undemocratic" and "Mujibist", arguing it concentrated executive, legislative, and judicial powers in one hand.
He called for a complete rewriting of the constitution rather than mere reforms.
"The seeds of autocracy were sown in the '72 Constitution. We want a new constitution that reflects the spirit of the July Uprising -- equality, human dignity, and social justice," he said.
He further criticised the BNP for allegedly "polluting" the July Charter by adding “notes of dissent” that allow parties to prioritise their own manifestos over national consensus.
Raising questions about relations with India, the NCP leader questioned the basis of the current "improvement" in ties.
"Border killings continue, and we haven't received our fair share of water," he said, demanding a relationship based on "dignity and equality".
He also questioned why the government remains silent on India harbouring ousted leader Sheikh Hasina.
Nahid presented a grim picture of the country's internal security, claiming that 31 people were killed, 14 raped, and 83 extortion incidents occurred in just two months.
He also highlighted the vast wealth gap between constituencies, comparing the development in Dhaka-17 with his own "neglected" Dhaka-11.
He also listed massive debts held by unnamed MPs, ranging from Tk 970 million to Tk 17 billion, promising to disclose their names in the next session.
