The National Citizen Party (NCP) has cautioned that the aspirations of the July uprising will remain unfulfilled unless the state experiences a profound and qualitative transformation.
NCP convener Nahid Islam made the remarks on Monday (14 April) during a New Year celebration organised by the party at Navy Lane in Eskaton Garden, Dhaka, marking the Bengali year 1432.
Delivering his New Year greetings, Islam said, “A central theme of Pahela Baishakh is renewal—clearing debts through hal khata. We too demand renewal—not merely of calendars, but of the state itself. The July uprising marked the beginning of this process. It ignited in us a longing for a new state, a new Bangladesh.”
He warned, however, that if the state remains unchanged in essence, the July uprising will be deemed a failure. “We are already witnessing that the anti-fascist forces are not uniformly embracing the vision and demands of the July uprising. From the outset, we declared that our movement aimed not just at removing individuals or parties, but at dismantling fascism, building a new political settlement, and ensuring justice for all. The movement is about systemic transformation, not cosmetic change.”
Islam stressed the urgency of reform, stating, “NCP is moving forward with a clear agenda of justice, reform, and Constituent Assembly elections. We demand to see tangible action on justice and institutional reform without delay. We have called on the government for a roadmap to these goals, through which we envision moving towards a new legislature and national renewal.”
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain echoed the call, asserting that the interim government must initiate reforms in key state institutions to prevent the resurgence of constitutional authoritarianism. “We expect the next government to carry these reforms forward in continuity.”
He also highlighted the marginalisation of the Bengali calendar in national consciousness, despite its continued relevance in rural life. “Our farmers still rely on the Bengali calendar for agricultural planning, yet it is often disregarded in official spaces. We hope the state will recognise and honour the significance of our traditional timekeeping.”
