Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has said that the July 2024 mass uprising was not aimed at replacing one political party with another, but rather at initiating fundamental reforms to reshape the state structure.

He said: "This movement was never about changing faces in power. It was about dismantling an authoritarian system and building a state where people’s rights are truly protected."

Nahid said this in a meeting with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of the National Parliament on Saturday (April 19).

He said that the NCP emerged from the momentum of the July uprising, rooted in youth-led activism. 

He described the movement as a rejection of fascism and a demand for a new political settlement based on democratic principles and inclusive governance.

Drawing parallels with past movements, he said, "People have risen before, including during the 1990 mass uprising, but their aspirations were often betrayed. That repeated failure paved the way for a 16-year authoritarian regime. We must ensure the July uprising does not end in the same disillusionment."

Nahid, a former adviser to the caretaker government, underscored the need for “qualitative and radical” reforms to break the cycle of autocracy. 

He criticised the existing constitutional framework, arguing it centralises power around a single individual and encourages authoritarianism regardless of who holds office.

"The state's foundation must be restructured," he said, highlighting the need for reforming the constitution, the judiciary, the office of the Prime Minister, and the electoral system. "Only then can we remove the embedded fascist tendencies in our political framework."

Calling for a broad political consensus, Nahid proposed a "July Charter" as a national commitment to block the return of any authoritarian rule in Bangladesh. "This is our chance to rewrite the rules of governance. We must seize it together."

The meeting was chaired by Monir Haider, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Other members of the National Consensus Commission present included Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz and members Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Safar Raj Hossain, and Dr Iftekharuzzaman.

The NCP delegation included member secretary Akhtar Hossain, joint convener Sarwar Tushar, chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, senior joint convener Samantha Sharmin, senior joint member secretary Nahida Sarwar Niva, and joint convener Javed Russell.

BDST: 1316 HRS, APR 19, 2025
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