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The National Citizen Party (NCP) has staged a protest over an alleged improvised explosive attack on a van taking part in the July Procession in Dhaka.
About 50 party activists conducted a protest march from the NCP’s Headquarters in Banglamotor around 12:30 am on Thursday. The march, which continued despite the rain, ended with a rally at the Shahbagh Metro Station.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Lutfor Rahman said that the NCP is conducting the “July Procession to Build the Country” programme to commemorate the anniversary of the July Uprising. As part of the programme, they had set up a van with a digital display in Dhaka.
“Shortly before midnight on Wednesday, criminals threw an improvised explosive at the July Procession van parked at Banglamotor. This damaged the Tk 100,000 display on the van. Someone is doing this to try and instil fear in us.”
Most of the party’s leadership is currently in northern Bangladesh as part of the July Procession. NCP Senior Joint Convenor Ariful Islam Adib, who was in Dhaka, led the protest march, according to a bdnews24.com report.
During a brief rally at Shahbagh, Adil said: “We have seen family members of martyrs being attacked in different parts of the country at different times. The terrorists of the Chhatra League and Jubo League have also attacked the graves of martyrs. At various times, our comrades-in-arms are attacked. Whenever there is a protest somewhere, the police also attack our comrades who were injured in July.
“Just as online propaganda is being carried out to suppress the July student group NCP, repeated attacks using improvised explosives have been carried out. It is the responsibility of the government put in place by the uprising to provide security to everyone who fought during it. If this government cannot provide security to those who took part in the mass uprising, then the forces of the uprising will be compelled to form a July Revolutionary Force.”
On Jun 23, an improvised explosive had detonated on the road in front of Rupayan Tower, where the NCP has its offices. NCP leaders and activists demonstrated in the Banglamotor area that night as well.
Addressing law-enforcing agencies, Adib said: “We see that the police are playing a passive role. Despite three consecutive cocktail attacks, the intelligence agencies are unable to identify anyone involved. I strongly demand that these state institutions be reformed very soon."