Media trying to defame July Uprising leaders ahead of polls, says NCP's Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam has alleged that some media outlets are attempting to defame leaders and activists of the July Uprising ahead of the upcoming elections.

“The incident involving July activist Tahrima Jannat Surovi, who was recently released on bail, is a continuation of this,” Nahid said.

He made the remarks late on Monday night after visiting Surovi at her residence in Tongi.

“Some media outlets are trying to defame people who were at the forefront of the uprising, keeping the elections in mind,” Nahid said.

“There is a planned conspiracy ahead of the polls to portray July Uprising leaders and activists as extortionists and corrupt.”

Surovi was granted bail on Monday evening, hours after a court placed her on remand in an extortion case.

Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Amit Kumar Dey granted her bail at around 6:15pm. She was released from jail at about 7:30pm.

A case was filed against Surovi at Kaliakair Police Station in Gazipur on Nov 26 last year.

She was later arrested from her home in the Gopalpur Tekpara area under Tongi East Police Station at around 12:30am on Dec 25.

Surovi is the daughter of Selim Mia of the area.

Referring to the case, Nahid alleged that some media outlets were spreading negative reports about leaders and activists of the July Uprising without verifying facts.

“They are publishing such news in the name of the July Uprising leaders and activists without confirming the truth,” he said.

Nahid played a prominent role in the 36-day movement in 2024 that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

At the time, he was one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

A sociology graduate from Dhaka University, Nahid was also the central member secretary of the student organisation Gonotantrik Chhatra Shokti, which emerged under the leadership of former DUCSU social service secretary Akhter Hossen.

Several members of the organisation later played key roles in the Students Against Discrimination movement.

Recalling the murder of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi, Nahid urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant.

“A group is trying to infiltrate the party to create chaos in the country,” he said.