Staff Reporter:
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Md Nahid Islam yesterday said the people of Bangladesh would unite on Victory Day today against the Indian hegemony and all conspiracies targeting the country.
“On Victory Day today, we will not take to the streets for celebration. We will take to the streets for resistance. In Dhaka and across Bangladesh, we will hold resistance rallies against Indian hegemony and all anti-Bangladesh conspiracies,” he added.
Nahid was addressing the all-party resistance rally protesting the attempted killing of Osman Hadi, or-ganised by Inqilab Mancha at the Central Shaheed Minar this afternoon.
The NCP Convener said December 16 symbolises not only victory but also the beginning of a long jour-ney of resistance.
“Just as we achieved victory on December 16, 1971, our journey of resistance also began that day. That resistance was against Indian aggression, and it has continued to this day,” he said.
He said if India believed it could continue political interference in Bangladesh after August 5, including manipulating elections, “that assumption is wrong and will be proven wrong”.
Referring to the shooting of Osman Hadi, Nahid said the attack was not an isolated incident. “With the bullet hitting Osman Hadi, the July Revolution has been attacked. Every time Bangladesh is attacked, its youth rise in resistance,” he said.
In this connection, he said that the rally carried a clear message that Bangladesh and the forces of the July Revolution remain united.
Nahid also questioned the moral legitimacy of the Chief Election Commissioner following his recent remarks.
“After such statements, he has no moral right to remain in office. Whether a free and fair election is pos-sible under him is a question before the nation,” he said and expressed the hope that the statement would be withdrawn immediately.
Nahid said calls had been raised for the resignation of the home adviser, arguing that he had lost moral authority to remain in office.
“Since August 5, the law and order situation has not returned to normalcy. Participants of the July upris-ing have been targeted, martyr families harassed, and justice has not been ensured,” Nahid said.
The rally, which began at 3:00 pm, was attended by leaders and activists of various political, social and cultural organisations. Representatives of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Gano Odhikar Parishad, AB Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, among others, joined the program.
Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha and an independent aspirant for the Dhaka-8 par-liamentary constituencies was critically wounded in a broad-daylight shooting by unidentified assailants in the capital’s Paltan area on December 12.
