The leaders of the newly formed National Citizens Party on Tuesday reiterated their commitment to drafting a new constitution and holding a constituent assembly election as part of their vision to establish a new republic.
The NCP, formed by the student and youth leaders of the successful July uprising against the Awami League regime on February 28, officially started its organisational activities on the day by paying tribute to the Liberation War heroes and the martyrs of the July uprising at the National Memorial in Savar.
Talking to journalists after paying tribute to the martyrs, NCP convener Nahid Islam stressed the urgency to ensure justice for the July mass killings within the shortest possible time.
He said that the political fate of the Awami League would be determined through judicial process on the soil of Bangladesh.
A new Bangladesh cannot be built by keeping the old constitution intact, he said.
鈥榃e want to build a new Bangladesh by embracing the aspirations of all the struggles鈥� from 1947 to the Liberation War in 1971 and the mass uprising in 2024,鈥� Nahid said.
Although Bangladesh gained independence through a war in 1971, its sovereignty has repeatedly come under threat, he said.
He said that democratic institutions collapsed over time and a one-party constitution fostered fascism and autocratic rule instead of a truly democratic system, he said.
鈥楢s a result, we emphasised the need to build a new republic, requiring a new constitution and elections to the constituent assembly. Thus, we are introducing the idea of the 鈥渟econd republic鈥�,鈥� Nahid said.
The NCP鈥檚 first task is to expand organisational works at the grassroots level, swiftly meet the requirements for registration as a political party and begin drafting the constitution within this month, the NPC chief said.
Nahid called for a national dialogue to swiftly implement the national consensus charter, or the July Charter, and the July Declaration.
NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain stressed the need to move beyond the traditional right-left political division and initiate a centrist political approach.
The leaders also vowed to rebuild Bangladesh with the spirit of the July uprising.
NCP leaders including Nasiruddin Patowary, Abdul Hannan Masud, Samanta Sharmin, Ariful Islam, Tasnim Zara, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, and several district and upazila representatives of the party were also present.
The NCP leaders later paid tributes to the mass uprising martyrs at their graves at Rayerbazar in the capital.
After paying the tributes, Nahid Islam said that the constituent assembly elections would help the transition to a new constitution and a truly democratic process.
He said that the constituent assembly elections and the parliamentary elections could be held together to pave the way for a new structure and a new Bangladesh.
NCP Chief organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam said that none should even mistakenly talk about the elections until bringing deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to justice.
Shekih Hasina-led Awami League regime was ousted on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising.
