On the 54th Independence Day of Bangladesh, Nahid Islam, the leader of the National Citizen Party, made a strong statement after paying tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar.
He compared the popular uprising of 2024 to the spirit of 1971, saying,
“1971 and 2024 are not different. The spirit of 1971 has been revived through the popular uprising of 2024.”
In an exclusive interview with the press, Nahid Islam expressed his concerns about the country’s current political climate.
He remarked that the goals of 1971 have still not been fully realized after 54 years, which, according to him, made another popular uprising necessary.
“The equality we fought for in 1971 is the same call we are making in 2024, for a society free from discrimination,” he said.
“Those trying to present these two struggles as contradictory are doing so with dishonest motives.”
He also criticized those who, according to him, failed to understand the true meaning of the 2024 uprising.
“The youth who have come forward cannot fully grasp the message of this time,” he added.
Nahid Islam further emphasized that, in order for the country to move forward on the path of democracy, justice and reforms must be prioritized before any elections.
“If elections are held to place a particular party in power without addressing the issues of justice and reforms, we will not accept them,” he stated clearly.
Discussing the current political situation, he pointed out attempts to cling to outdated systems.
He expressed concern that “the struggles of 2024’s uprising, the 1971 fight for liberation, and the 1947 freedom struggle could all be undermined by a lust for power.”
He called for not wasting the potential created by the popular uprising, warning against trying to bypass necessary reforms for power`s sake.
“The effort to impose an election without reform and justice, just to gain power, is wrong,” Nahid Islam said.
“At the same time, efforts are being made to bring back fascist forces, which is something the National Citizen Party will resist.”
Nahid Islam’s message was clear: any move that ignores justice and reforms in the pursuit of political power will not be tolerated.
