Nahid calls BNP government a ‘July betrayer,’ urges street protests to demand reforms. Full speech transcript.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), delivered the below speech in Bangla, on Saturday.

1. Critique of the current government and betrayal of the mass uprising

That government is a government contrary to the aspirations of the mass uprising. Although BNP, the party currently in power, was part of the mass uprising at that time, and many Chhatra Dal leaders were injured and killed, their political leaders compromised with the Awami League over the past 16 to 17 years.

As a result, we have seen no desire for change among their leaders. They have brought no change over the last seven or eight months.

In the election held in 2026, you cast two votes: one in a referendum and another to elect members of the national parliament. In that referendum, all of us together voted “Yes.” We said “Yes” was the symbol of change and reform.

But as soon as they came to power through the election, they disregarded the July Charter and denied the referendum. By denying the referendum, they betrayed the martyrs of the mass uprising.

We can call the BNP government a “July Betrayer” (July Gaddar) government that erased the July aspirations and returned Bangladesh to the old order.

If the July Charter is not implemented, if reforms are not carried out, if inequality in the country is not removed, and if extortion and terrorism are not eliminated, then the people of Bangladesh have started asking what Sheikh Hasina’s fault was. Because there is no difference anymore between Tarique Rahman and Sheikh Hasina.

Tarique Rahman is also illegitimately in power now, just like Sheikh Hasina. Tarique Rahman has robbed the people’s right to vote, including the voting rights established by the referendum. They conducted a flawed election, monopolized state power, and handed the country over to mafias. Today, we see examples of this across the entire country.

2. Economic hardship, breakdown of law and order, and extortion

According to government figures, the official price of LPG gas is 1,800 taka, but in the retail market, you have to buy it for 2,500 to 3,500 taka, whereas even after the election it was 1,200 taka.

During the interim government, despite a global conflict situation and fragility in the police force, students and the public were on the streets, and the country’s situation was not this bad.

Look at the law and order situation today. Just this morning, we saw that singer Asif Akbar’s car was attacked and vandalized. No matter what level of society you belong to, you have no security in this state.

This government has completely failed to guarantee security, and the home minister has completely failed. The largest drug syndicates and hotspots are under the control and command of BNP leaders. Consequently, no matter how much a BNP state minister steps out carrying a gun, it is impossible for the BNP government to eradicate drugs.

In the transport sector, indiscriminate extortion takes place. In the Sayedabad and Jatrabari areas, extortion is collected from every bus and every route’s vehicle.

Where does this extortion money go? A portion goes to the Awami League, and another portion goes to our new BNP. Together, they are sharing the loot, destroying the country’s economy, and draining money from people’s pockets.

Therefore, this situation of terrorism and anarchy cannot continue. We must unite. There is no option left for us other than uniting and taking to the streets. We know you are tired after protesting for the last 16 years, but the mass uprising has been hijacked.

3. Parliament’s ineffectiveness and key demands

Tarique Rahman has hijacked the mass uprising, and to reclaim it, we have no alternative but to return to the streets.

The parliament formed after 16 years is not worth even two pennies anymore. There is doubt whether this parliament will last five years because there is no evaluation of the opposition’s voice or the people’s voice. It has become BNP’s two-thirds parliament, no longer the people’s parliament.

You sent us to parliament to speak on your behalf, but since we cannot speak there, we have returned to the streets to stand before you once again.

We demand immediate steps to address the breakdown of law and order:

Resignation of the home minister: It is impossible to restore law and order while he remains in office.

Resignation of the energy minister: He must accept responsibility for failure in the energy sector and resign.

Formation of a Constitution Reform Council: The farce taking place under the name of the Constitution Amendment Committee must stop. A proper Constitution Reform Commission and Council must be formed in line with the referendum mandate, and all authoritarian laws passed in parliament must be repealed.

Justice for July genocide martyrs: Justice must be ensured for the martyrs of Jatrabari, including brother Osman Hadi, and all court verdicts must be executed immediately.

4. Deprivation of farmers, politicization, and local government issues

People across the country are suffering. Today’s newspapers reported that potato farmers are forced to sell at a loss. Where it costs 860 taka to keep potatoes in cold storage, they are forced to sell them for 625 taka.

In Lakshmipur, fertilizer dealerships were awarded to 57 individuals, 45 of whom are BNP leaders and activists with zero prior experience in the fertilizer business.

This same politicization is visible everywhere. Two days ago, a local government state minister announced at an event that an unelected, illegal administrator appointed for Dhaka South was declared BNP’s mayor candidate.

What kind of democracy is this? BNP is destroying the democracy that citizens sacrificed their lives and blood to establish. This illegal administrator must resign immediately.

No administrator appointed to district councils or city corporations should be allowed to contest local government elections. The local government state minister must withdraw his statement and apologize to the nation. Local government administration belongs to the state and its citizens, not to BNP or any single party.

In the future, Mr. Nasiruddin Patwary will assume that post in Dhaka City Corporation, Insha’Allah, and establish the rights of the city dwellers. A city mafia engineered his defeat in the recent election, but they could not erase him from the people’s hearts.

Nasiruddin Patwary will move across all of Dhaka South City Corporation. Wherever there is extortion, terrorism, or land grabbing, inform Nasiruddin Patwary and the NCP. We will stand with you and resist them.

5. Call to action at Shahbagh and closing warning

Today, our public outreach program continues in Jatrabari. We warmly invite the people of Jatrabari to participate in the upcoming mass demonstration at Shahbagh in October.

This is not a party program. It is the people’s program to establish the rights of citizens, workers, and laborers.

Insha’Allah, from Shahbagh, we will march toward Parliament and the prime minister’s residence. We ousted Sheikh Hasina from Gono Bhaban previously. We hope a situation requiring an ouster does not arise again, and that Tarique Rahman learns from history before it is too late.

We hear he has not sold or given up his London residence, and Mr. Salauddin has kept his residence in Shillong. They keep one foot in the country and one foot abroad because they know they lack the people’s mandate and may need to flee at any moment.

While there is still time, fulfill the mandate of the referendum and the mass uprising. Otherwise, when the public streams onto the streets like an unstoppable tide, nothing will be able to block that surge.

Following the path shown by Osman Hadi, Abrar Fahad, Abu Sayed, Felani Khatun, martyr Mugdho, and martyr Riyaqob, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) will march forward to establish the people’s rights.

Inqilab Zindabad!