National Citizen Party on Monday asked the accused collaborators in 1971 genocide to clarify their political position to the nation.
The call came in a statement to clarify NCP鈥檚 position in recent political debates raised over objectionable partisan slogan and prevention to sing the national anthem by a group during recent demonstrations demanding ban on Awami League and its trial.
鈥楾hose who opposed the liberation war in 1971 and are accused of collaborating in the genocide, we want them to clearly explain their political stance before the nation to strengthen national reconciliation and unity and contribute to realising the people鈥檚 aspirations behind the uprising of 2024,鈥� read the statement without mentioning any name of political parties.
鈥楾he National Citizen Party believes that proper recognition and respect for the historic chapters of the Bangladeshi people鈥檚 struggle鈥攏amely 1947, 1971, and 2024鈥攁re fundamental preconditions for engaging in politics in Bangladesh,鈥� said the statement, signed by NCP joint member secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat.
According to NCP, a party or group has the responsibility to clearly explain its stance to the people for national unity if that party or group has any political positions or ideologies those created division and disunity in the past.
Expressing concern over the issue of partisan slogan and national anthem performance incidents, NCP said, 鈥楢 group has deliberately chanted partisan slogans and slogans opposing the historic struggles of the people of Bangladesh.鈥�
NCP considered it as a disruption in the opportunity to renew national unity after July.
The party stated that no member of NCP chanted partisan slogans or slogans that were against the struggles and history of the people of this land.
鈥楾herefore, the relevant party must bear the responsibility for the objectionable slogans that have raised questions in the public mind,鈥� read the statement.
NCP also stated that protesters in the demonstration firmly sang the national anthem although a group objected during the performance.
Earlier, students, individuals injured during the July uprising, and activists from a wide range of political and religious parties and organisations, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hefazat-e Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, Inquilab Mancha, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and Amar Bangladesh Party, joined demonstrations following the call from NCP leaders Nahid Islam and Hasnat Abdullah demanding ban on and trial of AL.
Some video clips from the demonstrations showing a group objecting the performance of the national anthem and a group chanting slogan鈥斺�楪hulam Azam-er Banglay Awami League-er thai nai鈥� (Awami League has no place in Ghulam Azam鈥檚 Bangla)鈥攄rew huge criticisms from the people.
Ghulam Azam was a former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami who was convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for his role in the War of Independence in 1971.
