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Nahid Islam | File photo

Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina had split the country using the freedom fighters versus Razakars divide and using ‘Mujibism’ for past 50 years the country was kept divided, while the July uprising was organised against such divisions in society and to build a new Bangladesh, said National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam. 

As part of the NCP’s ongoing programme marking the first anniversary of the July uprising, Nahid made the remarks at a rally in Bhola on Tuesday.


‘We moved forward ignoring the divide during the 2024 July uprising. We made a promise to create a new Bangladesh, an inclusive democratic Bangladesh, and everyone’s Bangladesh. This Bangladesh will be for labourers, farmers, middle-class people, and the common people,’ said Nahid while addressing a rally in Bhola’s press club area on the 15th day of the party’s countrywide march.

Recalling July uprising memories, he shared how female students in Dhaka University came out of the halls on early July 15, 2024 and protested at Hasina’s controversial remarks terming the protesters as Razakars. 

Nahid was also a former central leader of Students Against Discrimination that spearheaded the July uprising to oust the Awami League regime on August 5.

Nahid said that Bhola district was deprived of development and local people were deprived of natural gas though Bhola was among the leading sources of natural gas.

The NCP began its national-level march on July 1 from Rangpur by offering prayers for uprising martyr Abu Sayed as part of its July 1- August 5 countrywide programme to mark the first anniversary of the uprising.

A group of student and youth leaders who led the uprising formed the NCP on February 28.

NCP leaders and activists, including the party’s chief organiser for North Sarjis Alam, chief organiser for South Hasnat Abdullah, senior joint convener Samanta Sharmeen, senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adeeb and senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara, among others, participated in the marches and rallies in Bhola and Barishal districts.

The NCP is scheduled to hold marches in all districts till July 30, demanding trial of the Awami League and its leaders for the massacres during the mass uprising, reforms in various sectors, and a new constitution aiming at building a discrimination-free Bangladesh.

The party leaders and activists will hold marches and rallies in Gopalganj, Madaripur, and Shariatpur districts today.