National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam on Friday said that the people who were trying to revive the politics of 鈥榝or or against 鈥�71鈥� wanted to drag the country back into an out-dated political framework.
鈥楾hose who now seek to revive the politics of 鈥渇or or against 鈥�71鈥� want to drag the country back into an outdated political framework,鈥� Nahid wrote on his verified Facebook in an English post.
The NCP top leader also wrote that today鈥檚 politics聽 must be based on the values of 鈥�24 and those who wanted to return to 鈥�71 were denying the new political reality of 鈥�24.
On the War of Independence in 1971 and the July mass uprising in 2024, he wrote in the post, 鈥榃e have said it before 鈥� 鈥�24 is the continuation of 鈥�71.鈥�
Nahid explained that the aspirations of the independence war 鈥� equity, dignity and justice 鈥攚ere reaffirmed through the anti-discriminatory and democratic uprising in 2024.聽聽聽聽
While 鈥楳ujibism鈥� tried to fit 鈥�71 into an Indian narrative compromising national sovereignty and interest of Bangladesh, 鈥�24 reclaimed the true spirit of independence, sovereignty and the War, he said.
鈥業t was a united fight against authoritarianism, fascism, and domination 鈥� driven by the hope of a democratic and egalitarian Bangladesh,鈥� wrote Nahid.
鈥楢fter 鈥�24, a new political reality and a new generation of people emerged 鈥� those who participated in and won the battle of 鈥�24. We have crossed over from 鈥�71 and arrived in 鈥�24,鈥� added the NCP leader.
He also said that a fresh start was sought from the uprising to build a new political culture based on the values and aspirations born out of the uprising.
鈥楧efeating Mujibism and all other forms of authoritarian and fascist forces is our responsibility to unify and democratize the state and society,鈥� wrote Nahid, adding that the present generation has already moved beyond 鈥�71.
鈥楴o one is willing to accept politics built around the binary of being either 鈥減ro-鈥�71鈥� or 鈥渁nti-鈥�71.鈥� 鈥�71 will remain in history 鈥� as a foundation of the state, a principle to be respected 鈥� but it will no longer dominate political legitimacy. 鈥�47 will be remembered similarly, with historical reverence, but not as a tool for political manipulation,鈥� he wrote.
鈥楾his doesn鈥檛 mean we won鈥檛 discuss or debate those events 鈥� rather, in this new political reality, we can finally resolve our historical questions,鈥� wrote Nahid, adding, 鈥楶olitics must now be based on the values of 鈥�24.鈥�
鈥楾hose who want to return to 鈥�71 are denying the new political reality of 鈥�24. The uprising of 鈥�24 served as a form of atonement for many political forces through their participation. But that atonement will lose its meaning if they or we regress into old ideological politics. It is our responsibility to prevent the resurgence of out-dated binary frameworks in our political landscape,鈥� wrote Nahid.
鈥業t should be remembered that 鈥�24 was never about revenge. Those attempting to weaponize it as an act of retaliation have misunderstood its very essence,鈥� he wrote, adding, 鈥樷��24 is a space for national unity and reconciliation.鈥�
鈥業ts spirit lies in building the future 鈥� a future that must be shaped through consensus, compassion, and collective responsibility, not through cycles of retribution,鈥� ended Nahid.
