National Citizens’ Party (NCP) chief organizer for the southern region, Hasnat Abdullah, has said that BNP leader Rumin Farhana sent gifts as a gesture following a brief misunderstanding between them.
“She sent her people to ask whether we were facing any problems and also sent us some gifts. This is a positive message for us, and we should welcome it,” Hasnat said while addressing a courtyard meeting in Chatrapur School field, Bijoynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria, on Saturday night. The program was organized under the banner “Uthaney Notun Songbidhan (New Constitution in the Courtyard)” by the Bijoynagar unit of NCP, highlighting demands for a Constituent Assembly election, a new constitution, justice, and reforms.
Hasnat explained, “People label us as anti-election, while BNP is speaking only about elections. But we are raising three issues—election, reform, and justice. Reforms are basic. For example, there must be a resolution ensuring that police cannot pick me up from my house without trial or warrant, and if they do, my family must be informed. Has this been settled yet? It hasn’t.”
Criticizing the political culture, he remarked, “We hear announcements like—if the ‘sheaf of paddy’ (BNP’s electoral symbol) is not on the ballot, some would even print their own ballot boxes. I am not saying this is the official stance of a political party, but it reflects the psychological state of many within it.”
Referring to recent violence, Hasnat said, “The attack on Nurul Haque Nur carries a message for us. Tarique Rahman had to leave the country after giving undertakings; he was brutally beaten and had his spine broken. The same fate awaits us if we cannot change the rules. What happened to Nur, what happened to Khaleda Zia—these could also happen to us if we fail to bring change. That change, which we call reform, requires unity.”
Other speakers at the meeting included NCP Joint Member Secretary S. M. Saif Mostafiz, Joint Chief Organizer (South) Mahmuda Alam, Md. Ataullah, and Bijoynagar Upazila Chief Coordinator Aminul Haque Chowdhury.
