In Munshiganj, Nahid Islam Says Without State Reform a New Ruler Will Also Become Another Hasina

Munshiganj: Without reform of the state structure, whoever comes to power will become another Sheikh Hasina, said Nahid Islam, chief whip of the opposition in the National Parliament and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP). He made the remarks at a press conference at Kachari Royal Party Centre in Munshiganj town on Monday (26 October) at around 11am.

The press conference was held before an exchange meeting organised to review organisational progress and formulate plans centred on local government elections.

Nahid Islam said the desired change will not come by only changing the driver without changing the structure of running the state. In his words, 'The driver has changed, but the machine has not changed. Without changing that machine, even the best driver cannot take the car in the right direction.'

He alleged that state institutions were partisanised during the Awami League government, and that tendency is still visible in various fields. He said without fundamental change to the state structure through a Constitution Reform Council, continuity of the current system will remain.

On the caretaker government system, Nahid Islam said it is not enough just to form a caretaker government; the process of forming the chief adviser and the entire council must also be determined. The government must be formed according to proposals adopted by the National Consensus Commission based on opinions of all parties, he said.

He warned that if any party tries to form a caretaker government with people of its own choice, the NCP will not take part in that process and will not allow it to be implemented.

Nahid Islam said he sees no possibility of Sheikh Hasina returning to Bangladesh in December. He said it would be wrong to see the Awami League's recent activities only as the party's own political activity. He alleged India is using the Awami League to carry out these activities to keep Bangladesh under multifaceted pressure. On questions of national interest and sovereignty, who stands for the country matters more than party identity, he said.

At the press conference, Nahid Islam announced an NCP mass protest programme at Shahbagh in Dhaka on 31 October. He said one of the programme's main demands is the resignation of the home minister and the energy minister.

He also raised various problems of Munshiganj. He said they will talk with local people about river filling, illegal sand lifting, extortion, terrorism and occupation.

NCP senior joint member secretary Sarjis Alam and leaders from central and district levels were present at the press conference.