Nahid Islam accuses Bangladesh government of betraying reform mandate

Accusing the elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government of betraying the youth and ignoring the public’s mandate for structural change, National Citizen Party (NCP) head Nahid Islam delivered a blistering critique of the ruling party at an 11-party alliance divisional rally in Sylhet.

Throughout his speech, Islam detailed a litany of failures by the current administration, primarily focusing on the BNP’s abandonment of state reforms in favor of partisan consolidation. He noted that despite 70% of the public voting in a referendum for comprehensive reforms and the “July Covenant,” the BNP has completely disregarded this mandate upon assuming power.

Islam sharply criticized the government for attempting to substitute foundational constitutional reform with mere superficial “amendments,” aided by partisan intellectuals. He highlighted the BNP’s hypocrisy regarding its own pre-election promises.

“Even though their 31-point plan mentioned a Constitutional Reform Commission, they have forgotten what reform is after getting elected. Now they only recognize ‘amendment’ and nothing else,” Islam stated. “Even this BNP has hung the carrot of reform, the carrot of the 31-point plan, for the past 16 years, deceiving the people.”

Beyond broken political promises, Islam outlined severe economic and institutional failures. He pointed to an acute gas crisis in Dhaka, alongside skyrocketing prices for fuel, electricity, cooking cylinders, and vegetables, which have placed an unbearable burden on the middle class. Furthermore, he argued that the government is failing to secure vital international cooperation to resolve these economic crises precisely because of its refusal to implement reforms.

Islam also accused the BNP of aggressively politicizing state institutions, particularly the Election Commission, warning that the democratic progress citizens fought for will be impossible under these conditions. He demanded the immediate restructuring of the Election Commission—or the resignation of the current commissioners—ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

Declaring the end of the alliance’s cooperation with the government, Islam announced that a massive movement will soon be launched from Dhaka. He issued a stark and direct ultimatum to the BNP leadership, warning them not to forget the 1,400 martyrs who gave their lives during the recent uprisings.

“If they walk the other way, if they forget the July revolution, if they forget the youth movement, if they forget the sacrifice of 1,400 martyrs of this country, then the BNP and Tarique Rahman’s government will have to suffer the consequences,” Islam warned.

Closing his speech, he left the BNP’s leadership with a grim choice regarding their political survival: “If this government does not implement the July Covenant and the mandate of the referendum, they will not be able to complete their five-year term. Tarique Rahman has to decide: does he want to remain in power as an elected government for five years? Or does he want to suffer the same tragic fate as Sheikh Hasina and others around the world for ignoring the people’s mandate?”

Islam was one of the key leaders of the movement that toppled Hasina’s autocratic government, paving the way for an open election.

Email: cr@deshweek.com