National Citizens’ Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday (Apr 16) said elections will not be acceptable without basic reforms to the state. He told reporters after a meeting with the visiting U.S. deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Nicole Ann Chulick held at the residence of the U.S. deputy head of mission of the U.S. to Dhaka. NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossain, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin and Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Zara, among others, were present at the meeting, local media reported.
Highlighting the party's three core demands – justice, reform and Constituent Assembly elections – Nahid Islam said, “We have made it explicitly clear that we are not aiming for minimal adjustments; our goal is fundamental reform aimed at qualitative changes in the state. Moving towards elections without any form of structural change would be dangerous for the country and whether or not the National Citizens’ Party will participate in such an election will be considered.”
He also alleged that party leaders and activists of the National Citizens’ Party are being attacked in various parts of the country. The administration is playing a silent role there, he claimed.
Nahid urged the government to create a “level playing field.”
He said, “We expect elections within the December to June timeline announced by the Chief Adviser. In the meantime, justice and reforms must be properly done. The July Charter must be implemented.”
