National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on Saturday said ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had no prospect of returning to Bangladesh in December, warning that she would face the gallows if she did.
"There is no chance of Apa (sister) coming to this country in any December. Even if she comes, the gallows is ready for her, Inshallah," Nahid said.
He made the remarks at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), where he attended a programme organised by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Ruhul Amin Auditorium.
The event welcomed new students and distributed prizes for a competition titled "Students' Thoughts on the July Mass Uprising".
Nahid also challenged the government's interpretation of Bangladesh's political history, questioning why the November 7, 1975, uprising was recognised as a revolution while the July 2024 uprising was not.
Referring to National Revolution and Solidarity Day, he said the NCP regarded both November 7 and the July uprising as revolutions.
He accused the government of selectively applying the term to events that suited its political position.
According to Nahid, events in which the ruling party played no leadership role, or which did not align with its politics, were instead described as movements or mass uprisings.
"If November 7 is a revolution, why shouldn't July be considered a revolution too?" he asked the students.
Turning to student politics, Nahid said Bangladesh's students and universities had not become inactive and must demonstrate their continued political and social engagement through action.
He urged students at NSTU to look beyond the demand for Noakhali's elevation to divisional status and engage with national and global issues.
"This is the real responsibility of university students," he said.
The NCP convener also called on students to prepare for international competition by developing skills suited to the global labour market.
He said students should follow changes in global politics, technology and employment rather than limit their career ambitions to Bangladesh.
Nahid urged them to develop the knowledge and capabilities needed to establish themselves internationally.