The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday called on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed to apologise for his remarks about the ‘July Warriors’ — individuals who demonstrated on the day of the July Charter signing.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s temporary office in the capital, NCP convener Nahid Islam described Salahuddin’s comments as ‘deeply painful’ and ‘unacceptable’.
Nahid criticised Salahuddin for allegedly describing the injured July Warriors involved in Friday’s incident as supporters of the ‘fascist Awami League’.
‘We strongly condemn and protest such a statement,’ Nahid said, suggesting the BNP leader may have spoken out of ignorance or misinformation. ‘As Salahuddin was not in the country during the July uprising, he might not be aware of who took to the streets, who fought, and who faced bullets.’
Referring to injured protesters like Atikul Gazi, who lost his hand, and the father of martyr Mir Mugdho, Nahid added, ‘It is heartbreaking when brave individuals are wrongly labelled as fascist collaborators.’
He urged Salahuddin to immediately withdraw his statement, issue a public apology to the injured protesters and bereaved families, and meet them in person to learn about the sacrifices made during the July movement.
The controversy stems from an incident on Friday when a group identifying themselves as ‘July Warriors’ set fire to two police tents on Manik Mia Avenue around 1:00pm, just hours before the signing of the July National Charter at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.
The violence broke out after protesters breached police barricades and staged a sit-in, demanding official recognition, indemnity, and inclusion in the charter’s signing ceremony.
On Saturday morning, after paying tribute at the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Salahuddin addressed the incident.
In response to a question, Salahuddin said the matter was under investigation and that initial findings suggested a group of unruly individuals, posing as students, had infiltrated the demonstration under the banner of ‘July Warriors’.
‘I consider them to be the fascist forces of the ousted fascist government,’ he said.
Salahuddin clarified that the legitimate July Warriors had previously presented their demands to both the BNP and the National Consensus Commission (NCC), and that those demands were deemed reasonable and had been addressed.
He added, ‘I personally raised their issues, which were resolved through the NCC. There should be no reason for further dissatisfaction.’
