The National Citizen Party on Sunday unveiled its manifesto pledging to introduce a new constitution and establish a second republic in recognition of the July uprising that led to the ouster of the authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.
It also vowed to reform all state institutions for establishing democracy and ensuring a justice-oriented judicial system.
NCP convener Nahid Islam read out the party鈥檚 24-point manifesto as the manifesto of new Bangladesh at a rally held at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
鈥榃e believe that without the full implementation of these reforms, the fascist structure cannot be abolished and our uprising of 鈥�24 will not be transformed into a democratic revolution,鈥� said Nahid.
The July uprising in 2024, which ousted the fascist regime of Awami League, created a new opportunity聽 to abolish the fascist system to ensure people鈥檚 freedom and rights, said Nahid adding, 鈥極ne year later, we stand once again before you at the Shaheed Minar to declare the 24-point manifesto for a new Bangladesh鈥攐ur Second Republic.鈥櫬犅犅�
The preamble of the manifesto addressed the historical struggles of the people in 1947, 1971 and 2024 鈥� first from the colonial rule through the Partition, later for independence from Pakistan through the War of Independence, and then from the misrule through the July uprising.
鈥榃e will create a new Bangladesh of many languages, cultures, and nations, based on the people鈥檚 aspirations for equality, human dignity, and social justice in the anti-colonial struggle, the independence struggle and the July Uprising,鈥� reads the manifesto.
The first commitment of the party is to introduce a new constitution through the constituent assembly and the new constitution will abolish dictatorship, dynastic rule and fascist structures and establish a non-discriminatory, democratic, inclusive and welfare-oriented second republic, says the manifesto.
The new state will protect the life, livelihood, dignity, and rights of the people, it reads, adding that the NCP will ensure the constitutional recognition of the July Proclamation and the July Charter.
The party also pledges to ensure trial and punishment for all crimes against humanity committed during the Awami League regime, including the July massacre, Shapla massacre, BDR massacre, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
It wants to build a just state where state institutions will be impartial, humane and people-oriented regardless of race, religion, or caste, where public service will be their motto.
Regarding the justice-oriented judiciary and law reforms, the party will modernise all the laws from the colonial period based on national and international human rights standards and no law will be enacted that violates fundamental human rights.
In the government institutions merit and qualification will be the only criteria for recruitment, transfer, posting, and promotion, it says, adding that the party will ensure speedy trials and maximum punishment for any corruption.
The manifesto also focuses on ensuring dignity of all religions, communities and ethnicities, and ensuring women鈥檚 security, rights, and empowerment.
The party pledges to decentralise power to strengthen the local government structure and make local government the centre of local development.
It also pledges to build people-friendly law enforcement agencies, independent media, strong civil society, modern health facilities for all, and create employment opportunities for the youth.
The other points of the manifesto include, ensuring dignity and rights of expatriate Bangladeshis, sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty, introducing an education policy for nation building, multi-dimensional trade and industrialisation policy, equality-based economy, and pro-Bangladeshi foreign policy.
A group of student and youth leaders who led the uprising have formed the NCP on February 28.
