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National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has said the fight against fascism, authoritarianism and corrupt forces is not over despite the fall of the Awami League in the August 5 mass uprising.
He said the current struggle had become more challenging as these forces were showing signs of regrouping. He also demanded the resignation of the home and energy ministers, citing allegations of deteriorating law and order, political patronage of drug trafficking and government failures.
Nahid made the remarks at a press conference held at the Rajbari Poura Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon.
He said the Awami League’s politics had been permanently ended in Bangladesh through the mass uprising, with people, students and young people sacrificing their lives and shedding blood to overthrow what he described as fascism.
“However, collaborators of fascism are still present in different places, and our fight against them continues,” he said.
Nahid said people had expected reforms in the country’s political and economic systems, job creation and a stronger democratic process following the uprising. However, he alleged that the government had failed to meet those expectations.
Instead, he said, concerns had emerged over deteriorating law and order, corruption, inflation and the alleged politicisation of various institutions.
He further alleged that a section of people had become increasingly unruly under the protection of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), using political influence to harass and oppress ordinary citizens.
In this context, he stressed the need to build a police force that is impartial, effective and people-friendly.
Criticising remarks in support of police crossfire, the NCP convener said a strong law enforcement agency did not mean engaging in extrajudicial activities.
He said police must be allowed to perform their duties in accordance with the law, free from political pressure.
He also called for guarantees that police officers would not face transfers or demotions for taking action against members of the ruling party.
