Nahid accuses BNP govt of curbing rights, undermining democracy

The BNP, since coming to power, has been curbing people's rights and undermining democracy, Opposition Chief Whip and Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nahid Islam said on Saturday.

“Those who have destroyed democracy in the past have ultimately ended up in the dustbin of history," Nahid said while addressing the inaugural rally of the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-to-Rangpur long march at the capital's Manik Mia Avenue.

Nahid said that the Prime Minister must now decide the manner in which he steps down from power, under pressure or through a dignified process.

"Tarique Rahman has to decide now whether he will flee by helicopter or hand over power through a dignified process," he said.

Nahid said the government passed an enforced disappearance law and a human rights law in the last parliamentary session, and that RAB had been renamed SRB.

While protecting human rights is the government's responsibility, he alleged the current government is instead creating conditions conducive to rights violations across the board.

He further alleged that the incumbent government has begun using the same laws and institutions that Sheikh Hasina's administration had used to suppress people's rights.

Noting that a wave of public support has built up behind the long march, Nahid Islam alleged that banners and festoons of the 11-party alliance have been torn down along the march route since Friday night, claiming BNP leaders and activists carried this out with the involvement of the city corporation.

Tearing down banners and festoons will not stop the tide of public support for the long march, he said, adding that the opposition's list of demands keeps growing but will ultimately converge into a single demand, calling on 11-party alliance leaders and activists to prepare accordingly.

Earlier, Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman warned that the 11-party opposition alliance’s eight demands could turn into a “one-point” movement if the government fails to address them.

“When it turns into a one-point demand, the situation will become extremely grave,” Shafiqur said at the opening rally of the alliance’s Dhaka-Rangpur long march on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital.

The warning came as the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance launched its second long march, with a convoy leaving Manik Mia Avenue for Rangpur shortly after 8am. The alliance held its first long march towards Chattogram earlier this month.

The alliance’s eight demands include implementation of the February 12 referendum verdict, justice for the July 2024 killings, measures to address shortages of electricity, fuel, gas and fertiliser, curbing prices of essentials, improving law and order, ending partisan control of the administration, tackling corruption and extortion, and implementing the Teesta Master Plan.

The long march is scheduled to hold rallies in Gazipur, Tangail, Sirajganj, Bogura and Gaibandha before ending with a rally at Rangpur Zilla School.