Doubt Whether This Parliament Will Last Five Years, Says Nahid Islam, Demanding Home Minister's Resignation

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has said: 'There is doubt whether the current Jatiya Sangsad will last five years. Even though an election was held and a new parliament formed after 16 years, the opposition's statements and the people's voice are not being valued there. Because of the BNP's two-thirds majority, this parliament is no longer the people's parliament.'

He made the remarks to journalists on Saturday (24 October) while carrying out a leaflet distribution and mass-contact programme in the capital's Jatrabari. Such doubt about the parliament's term, expressed by a top opposition leader, has sparked fresh discussion in political circles.

Strongly criticising the country's law and order situation, Nahid Islam said: 'The government has completely failed to ensure the security of citizens of any class in the country.' He alleged that this failure of the government is now visible in everyday incidents.

Referring to the attack and vandalism on singer Asif Akbar's car on Saturday morning, he said: 'The home minister has failed to ensure security.' Nahid Islam also demanded the home minister's resignation for the improvement of the country's law and order situation.

At the same time, he demanded the resignation of the energy minister as well, owning responsibility for failures in the energy sector. By demanding the resignation of the two ministers, he sought to convey that responsibility for the government's failures must be borne at the top of the ministries concerned.

The NCP convener also raised allegations of extortion in the transport sector. He said tolls are being collected from every bus and route vehicle in the Sayedabad and Jatrabari areas. He alleged that the Awami League and the BNP are still sharing this extortion money between themselves.

He alleged that because of this sharing between the two parties, the country's economy is being harmed and money is going out of people's pockets. He also hinted that transport-sector extortion directly creates pressure on ordinary passengers and transport workers.

Nahid Islam said: 'Terror and anarchy cannot continue in the country. To get out of this situation, everyone must unite and take to the streets. Even though people are tired after 16 years of movement, there is no alternative now.'

He alleged that Tarique Rahman has made the mass uprising fail. He commented that people must take to the streets again to restore the aspirations of that mass uprising. Through this statement, he signalled making opposition politics active on the streets as well as outside parliament.

He said: 'The people sent the opposition to parliament to raise their voice there. But as there is no opportunity to speak for the people there, they have come back to the people again.' He presented the mass-contact programme in Jatrabari as part of that 'return to the people'.

On constitutional reform, Nahid Islam said: 'The drama and farce going on in the name of a constitution amendment committee must be stopped. A constitution reform council must be formed in line with the mandate of the referendum.' In the same context, he also demanded changes to the authoritarian laws passed in parliament.

He demanded that justice be ensured for the martyrs of the July massacre in Jatrabari as well as for the killing of Osman Hadi. The NCP convener also demanded the immediate implementation of verdicts already delivered in cases.

Criticising the country's economic situation and partisan favouritism, he said: 'Potato farmers are being forced to sell potatoes at a loss. Storing potatoes in a cold storage costs 860 taka, yet they have to be sold for 625 taka.' Citing this picture of farmers' losses, he criticised the government's economic management.

Raising allegations of partisan favouritism in fertiliser dealerships, he said 57 people had been given fertiliser dealerships in Lakshmipur, of whom 45 are leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations. He also alleged that they have no experience of running a fertiliser business.

Referring to Nasiruddin Patwary's political role in Dhaka South City Corporation, he said: 'In this election he was defeated through engineering. But he could not be erased from the people's minds. From now on, Nasiruddin Patwary and the NCP will be active across the whole of Dhaka Metropolitan South.' He continued the mass-contact programme, calling on the people to inform them wherever extortion, terror or occupation takes place.