Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has vowed to take all necessary steps to ensure the timely announcement of the July Proclamation, which includes the outline of the country’s fundamental reforms.
Nahid, a leading figure in last year’s July Uprising that toppled the Awami League government, warned that he would once again take to the streets with students and the public at the start of next month if there is any further “dilly-dallying” over the announcement.
He made the remarks after visiting the grave of martyr Abu Sayed, the first martyr of the July Movement, in Rangpur’s Pirgonj on Tuesday.
On the first day of the month-long “July March” programme, marking the first anniversary of the July Uprising, NCP, the student-led party that led the movement, held a march and rally in Rangpur and Gaibandha.
“We want to clearly warn that the delay in the announcement of the July Proclamation and July Charter is unacceptable. If anyone, be it the government or others, believes that the thousands of people who took to the streets have now gone back home, they are mistaken,” said Nahid.
“From the grave of Abu Sayed, we declare that we will go to every road and corner of the country. We call on the students, the public, the youth, and workers to rise again and take to the streets.”
He continued, “We are coming to Dhaka on Aug 3. Together with the people of Bangladesh, the students, and the workers, we will march into Dhaka. And we will ensure that our July Proclamation and July Charter are realised.”
The NCP leader questioned how much of the public’s expectations had been fulfilled in the year since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime.
“There is disappointment among us as well because we still don’t see the realisation of the justice we seek. The Bangladesh we desire, a country free from inequality—we still don’t see that reform fully realised.”
The July Uprising was not about removing one party from power, but rather about establishing a democratic system, according to Nahid.
The NCP has repeatedly called for the July Charter to enshrine the country’s fundamental reforms, highlighting parts of the Constitution that will change and acting as an agreement between political parties. The next elected government will be bound to continue reform efforts in line with the July Charter.
The student-led movement, which started in mid-2024 with demands for quota reforms in government jobs, ultimately led to the ouster of the Awami League administration.
The 36-day protest culminated in the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after 15 years in power.
On Jul 16, Abu Sayed, a student from Begum Rokeya University’s English Department in Rangpur, was shot dead by police. He was honoured as the “first martyr” of the movement.
“Today marks the anniversary of the July Uprising. Exactly one year ago, on the first of July, we started a democratic movement under the banner of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which saw thousands of youth, students, and the public join, including Abu Sayed,” said Nahid.
“We saw the quota reform movement evolve into an Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which turned into a mass uprising, ultimately leading to the fall of the authoritarian, fascist government. And the death of Abu Sayed played a key role in this.”
He continued, “On Jul 16, when we heard about Abu Sayed’s death at Shaheed Minar, the whole of Bangladesh was shaken by grief and protest.”
Nahid, who had announced the one-point demand for the government’s resignation during the movement, added: “After Jul 16, the movement took a new direction. Thousands of students and youth stood against the government. The protest against fascism and the desire for a new system were declared as we began our July March, which we are calling the July March for nation building.”
“We have toppled the fascist government and sought to abolish its system. But to build a new country, we now need to work toward rebuilding the state itself. This is why our July March is critical. We will speak with and listen to the people across Bangladesh, in all 64 districts. We will share the words and aspirations of those who died, like Abu Sayed, for this cause.”
Nahid continued, “Today, on behalf of the National Citizen Party and all the students and people who participated in the [July] Uprising, we remember all the martyrs, including Abu Sayed, and those who were injured.”
“And I reiterate our demands today, from the grave of Abu Sayed: justice, reforms, and a new Constitution. To build a new Bangladesh, we must strive for justice, reforms, and move toward a new Constitution through a Constituent Assembly election.”