NCP urges govt to ensure feasible reforms, justice before polls

Member secretary of National Citizens Party (NCP), Akhtar Hossain, on Tuesday called on the interim government to proceed with holding national elections by implementing key state reforms and expediting judicial proceedings concerning July incidents.

Speaking at a discussion titled “Democratic Conversion: Basic Reform and Election” held at the Abdus Salam Auditorium of the National Press Club, Akhtar Hossain emphasized that holding elections without meaningful reforms would risk paving the way for authoritarian rule in Bangladesh once again.

Organized by Reform Coordination Committee of NCP, the discussion was chaired by NCP member secretary Akhter Hossen while NCP joint convener Javed Hasan presented detailed recommendations for state reforms.

“Reforms and elections should not be seen as opposing forces. If we go to the polls without restructuring the state, we will only reinforce a legacy of fascism,” Akhtar said. “To truly honor the essence of the movement that brought us here, we must dismantle the old system and build a new state structure.”

Akhtar called for a complete overhaul of the current constitution, criticizing it for consolidating excessive power in the hands of the Prime Minister.

“Goodwill of the rulers alone is insufficient. If the constitution itself is authoritarian in design, civil rights and democracy cannot thrive,” he noted. “Accountability within the legal framework is essential to prevent the return of dictatorship.”

He also stressed the urgency of establishing an independent judiciary. “The judiciary is the last refuge for the people. In the past, it has been subjugated by political forces. From now on, no citizen should suffer persecution simply for expressing dissent.”

Calling for unity among political forces, Akhtar warned that any party failing to honor the commitments of the July Charter would be rejected by the people.

He urged all anti-authoritarian parties to unite against Awami fascism.

Professor Dilara Chowdhury, Supreme Court lawyer Dr. Sharif Bhuiyan, advocate Shisir Monir, BIGD research fellow Dr. Mirza M Hasan, adviser to the BNP acting chairman Dr. Mahdi Amin, AB Party General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, presidium member of Islami Andolon Bangladesh Md. Ashraf Ali Akon, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Joint Convener Sultan Mohammad Zakaria, Sarwar Tushar and Khaled Saifullah spoke on the occasion, among others.