Declare ‘July Charter’ or we stage sit in

National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam yesterday warned that if the "July Charter" is not declared by August 5, they will take position at the Central Shaheed Minar to realise the demand.

"We will return to Dhaka on August 3. We will not leave the Shaheed Minar [premises] without realising our demand [for the July Charter]," said Nahid while addressing a rally organised by the party's Sherpur district unit in the Raghunath Bazar area of Sherpur town yesterday.

He said the party wants the July Charter to bring about fundamental reforms and qualitative changes in the state structure.

"Almost a year has passed, yet the interim government has failed to prepare the July Charter. Now we hear that it might be announced within a few days.

"But if the fundamental reforms are not carried out, and if they are not included in the July Charter, then the NCP will not endorse the charter," he added.

He called for incorporating the "July Declaration" into a new constitution.

To dismantle what he described as an authoritarian structure, Nahid reiterated the party's demand for the formation of an upper house in parliament and elections under a proportional representation (PR) system.

He also demanded curtail of the prime minister's powers.

"We strongly oppose continuous push-in through the borders. We have told the Indian government that we won't accept any killings or forced pushbacks along the border. If push-in is to be carried out, push in Awami League militants. Push in Sheikh Hasina. We will bring them to justice," he added.

Several central leaders, including senior joint member secretaries Tasnim Zara and Nahida Sarwar Nibha, and Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, were also present at the event.

Earlier in the day, NCP leaders arrived in Sherpur from Netrakona by road. They first visited the families of July uprising martyrs and the injured.

Later in the evening, they departed for Jamalpur.

TENSION IN NETRAKONA

Meanwhile, tension ran high in Netrakona yesterday following remarks made by NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari about former state minister for home affairs and senior BNP leader Lutfozzaman Babar.

BNP leaders and activists organised protest marches in multiple locations, including Netrakona district town, Madan, and other upazilas. Demonstrators chanted slogans and expressed strong outrage over Nasiruddin's comments.

Earlier in the day, during an NCP rally held at the Collectorate Ground in Netrakona, Nasiruddin directly addressed Babar.

"Many incidents have taken place in Bangladesh, but one of the biggest was the 10-truck arms haul. If you [Babar] couldn't handle the weapons, then why had you brought them in? This incident has posed a threat to Bangladesh's sovereignty in South Asia and endangered countless lives," he said.

He added, "Because of that incident, the BNP couldn't return to power. A fascist and killer like Sheikh Hasina came to power instead. Over the last 15 years, our brothers have been killed, shot at -- this makes you accountable in the court of history as well."

Condemning the NCP and its leader, district BNP Joint Convener Md Moniruzzaman Dudu, at a rally in Netrakona Sadar, said, "Through these statements, the NCP has revealed itself as an agent of Indian interests. From today, the NCP is declared unwelcome in Netrakona.

"We strongly condemn this indecent and provocative remark. We demand a full retraction and a formal apology to the nation from the NCP."

District BNP Convener Anwar Hossain also condemned the remarks. "It is completely inappropriate to personally attack anyone in a political gathering. Nasir Patwari's remarks are an attempt to distort history and are clearly provocative. I strongly protest."

In response, NCP Central Organiser Pritom Sohag issued a statement defending Nasiruddin, saying, "Nasiruddin Patwari did not personally attack anyone. He merely presented historical facts and political realities. There was no intent to insult or demean anyone."

[Our Mymensingh and Netrakona correspondents contributed to this report.]