A Correspondent:
Gopalganj: National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam yesterday warned of retaliatory action against the Mujibists following obstruction of the party’s street march initiative.
“We came to Gopalganj yesterday with the intention of building the nation, as part of the July March program. But we faced resistance. The Mujibists will face a response to this obstruction,” he said at the NCP rally in the Poura Park area here in the district town.
Nahid Islam said, “Had there been no obstruction yesterday, the general people of Gopalganj would have thronged this place. We did not come here to change the name of Gopalganj. We came with a promise of peace and to build a new Bangladesh.”
He added, “To those of you listening from afar, we came to Gopalganj yesterday as part of the July March programme to build the country. We came to establish the rights of the people of Gopalganj in the future Bangladesh — the new Bangladesh. We came with a call for peace and nation-building.”
The NCP convener continued, “The Mujibists obstructed us yesterday. During the July Uprising, we said, If there is obstruction, there will be struggle. And we must win that struggle. Again, we have been obstructed. And we will win this struggle. We will give a response to this.”
He went on, saying “Those who support the mass uprising, those who stand for a new Bangladesh — you must take responsibility. Gopalganj must not become a sanctuary for Mujibists.”
Nahid Islam said, “If the police administration fails in its duty to protect you, to protect Gopalganj, and to protect Bangladesh — then we must take on that responsibility ourselves, just as we did during the mass uprising.”
Addressing the people of Gopalganj, he said, “There can be no discrimination in an egalitarian Bangla-desh bearing the name Gopalganj. The Mujibists have tainted the Liberation War. They have defiled Go-palganj. We will reclaim this Gopalganj.”
About the obstruction by the Mujibists here, Nahid Islam said that Mujibists will be held accountable for it. “If we issue a call yesterday, people from across Bangladesh will gather here. We are giving time,” he added.
Pressing the need for trial of yesterday’s obstruction, he urged the administration to unearth it, saying “Who created it, and with what audacity — must be investigated. Why are the Mujibists still being shel-tered in Gopalganj? Those who have provided shelter must be held accountable.”
He cautioned that, “If not, we will return again and liberate Gopalganj from the Mujibists with our own hands.”
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said that terrorists launched attacks yesterday but could not sup-press the people of Gopalganj. “To those terrorists we say: we are not violent. The people of Bangladesh have given you a chance to repent. Let apologize and come back to the side of the people,” he added.
