NCP Convenor Nahid says Bangladesh will never be divided again

The NCP convenor announces the launch of the National Citizen Party, emphasising a vision of dreams and possibilities

Nahid Islam, the convenor of the newly formed National Citizen Party, or NCP, has said Bangladesh will never be divided again and that there will be no place for pro-India or pro-Pakistan politics in the country.

They aim to talk about the future—about dreams and possibilities for Bangladesh, he said while speaking at the party’s inaugural event outside the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Manik Mia Avenue on Friday evening.

The 26-year-old leader pledged to change what he termed as past attempts to “weaken the people of Bangladesh” through divisive politics.

The NCP was officially unveiled on Friday afternoon at Dhaka’s Manik Mia Avenue in an event organised by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens' Committee.

Following the announcement of the party’s partial committee, Nahid delivered the closing speech and read out its declaration.

“We believe that the divisive politics used to weaken the people of Bangladesh and the state itself was shattered by the unity demonstrated during the July Uprising,” he said.

“From this platform today, we take an oath: Bangladesh will never be divided again. There will be no place for pro-India or pro-Pakistan politics.

“Our politics and state-building efforts will be centred solely on Bangladesh and the interests of its people,” he said.

Nahid said: “Standing on this stage today, I want to talk about the future. We want to move beyond the past and speak of the possibilities and dreams of a new Bangladesh.”

“We are here today to realise that dream. The students and the people chanted, ‘who are you? Who am I? The alternative, the alternative’. Today, from that very spirit of an ‘alternative’, a new political party has emerged.”

He then read out the party’s declaration, marking his official entry into politics after stepping down as an interim government advisor.

Recalling Bangladesh’s history, the former Dhaka University student said: “As the people of the Bengal delta, we have a rich and distinct culture shaped by a long historical journey. After nearly 200 years of British colonial rule, Pakistan was formed in 1947. But the people of this land remained deprived of justice and equality.

“After 23 years of struggle, Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 through a great Liberation War, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of martyrs.”

However, he said: “Even after independence, the people of Bangladesh have had to fight repeatedly for democracy.

“In 1990, students and the people shed blood to oust a military dictator. Yet, five decades after independence, we have failed to establish a political system that guarantees democracy, equality, human dignity, and social justice.”

“Instead, over the past 15 years, a ‘ruthless fascist’ regime took hold, using state institutions recklessly to serve the ruling party’s interests while destroying democracy. The culture of suppressing dissent, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, rampant corruption, and money laundering became institutionalised,” he said.

Nahid said, “In July 2024, students and the people, through immense sacrifice, staged an unprecedented uprising that toppled the ‘fascist’ government, which had ruled for over a decade and a half.”

“But we must remember, this new freedom, won through the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs, was not just about replacing one government with another. The people rose up not merely to change power but to dismantle the fascist structure embedded in the state and to rebuild it on the basis of people's rights.”

With this goal in mind, the National Citizen Party has been founded, Nahid said.

“This will be a democratic, equality-based, and representative political party,” he added.

Before starting his speech, the event’s announcer introduced Nahid with several titles, one of which was “the Imam of the July Uprising”.

During his speech, Nahid said the July Movement marked the beginning of the struggle to establish a “second republic”.

“To prevent any future return to constitutional authoritarianism, we must draft a new democratic constitution. One of our primary goals is to hold a Constituent Assembly election to establish our ‘second republic’.”

Nahid said, “In our ‘second republic’, we will ensure national security by building a strong defence system. We will prioritise rebuilding the country’s broken political, social, economic, and cultural institutions while preserving their democratic character. Only through this can we emerge as a fully democratic state.”

He said the National Citizen Party aims to foster a new political culture where “unity replaces division, justice replaces vengeance, and merit and competence replace family dynasties”.

“There will be no place for corruption or nepotism in this political framework,” he added.

“In our ‘second republic’, the voices of the marginalised will be brought into the mainstream. In our republic, ordinary people—and only ordinary people—will be the ultimate source of power. The strongest protection of all their democratic and fundamental rights will be the foundation of our politics.”

He emphasised that the new political movement would uphold Bangladesh’s ethnic, social, gender, religious, and cultural diversity to build a pluralistic and prosperous society.

“Our republic will provide robust protection to all citizens from poverty, inequality, and the abuse of power. No section of the population will be alienated. Instead, every citizen will be equally valued and their security ensured,” he said.

Outlining the party’s commitment to building a society based on fairness and equality, Nahid said: “Let us join hands and build a Bangladesh where every citizen’s voice is heard, where justice and human rights are the driving forces of politics, and where equality and human dignity are the foundation of the state.”

“Now is the time—to dream anew, to forge a new path, and to build a new Bangladesh,” he concluded.