The BNP is in power through sheer force: Nahid Islam

Bangla Press Desk: Nahid Islam, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) and Chief Whip of the Opposition in the National Parliament, has remarked that the BNP’s current presence in government is maintained solely through sheer force. He noted that history has seen many others in Bangladesh hold power through such force—pushing through various decisions—yet none of those regimes proved lasting, nor were they able to retain power.

Nahid Islam made these comments to journalists on Friday (November 6) at 11:00 AM, during a regional coordination meeting of the NCP—attended by party members from Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha—held at the Gaibandha District Council auditorium.

Nahid Islam stated, "To implement the 'July Charter,' we have already launched programs across the country, both as an alliance and as individual parties. Within the parliament, we have established a 'Constitutional Reform Council'—a move consistent with our roles as sworn Members of Parliament. The implementation of the July Charter explicitly mandates this; however, the BNP’s Members of Parliament have betrayed the mandate of the mass uprising and the popular referendum by refusing to take this oath. Consequently, we believe the BNP’s current position in government is held by force, and their rejection of the popular referendum’s mandate is likewise an act of sheer coercion."

Citing historical precedents, he added, "We have seen in the past that many held power in Bangladesh through force, pushing through various decisions—yet these arrangements did not endure, and those in power could not remain. The BNP cannot sustain its grip on power through force indefinitely. If they wish to remain in power and complete a five-year term, they must implement the mandate of the popular referendum and fulfill the terms of the July Charter."

Nahid Islam further remarked that the BNP has taken it upon themselves to rehabilitate the Awami League. He questioned how they could so easily forget the atrocities and persecution inflicted by the Awami League upon the late Begum Khaleda Zia, asking, "How can they so readily overlook the 16-year history of the Awami League’s oppression?" Ziaur Rahman paid a heavy price for the historic mistake of bringing the Awami League back into politics; one hopes that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman does not have to pay a similar price for a comparable error.

Regarding the alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, he stated that while their partnership with Jamaat is based on a shared agenda, it is not an ideological alliance.

Touching upon the upcoming Union Parishad elections, Nahid Islam announced that the NCP will field its own candidates independently across the country.

Also present on the occasion were senior joint member-secretary of the NCP central committee Sarjis Alam, joint convener Dr. Atiq Mujahid, organizing secretary Kamrul Islam Darpan, and various local leaders.

Earlier, upon their arrival in Gaibandha, the central leaders were welcomed with flowers by local party activists.