Make parliament effective, or streets and House will merge: Nahid Islam

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has warned that parliament and the streets could effectively become one if the government fails to make the House functional and allow the opposition to play its proper role.

“If parliament cannot deliver people’s rights and solutions to their problems, then there is no need for this parliament,” he said, urging the government either to apologise to the people or sit with opposition and other political parties to find a way to run the country collectively.

Nahid made the remarks at the concluding rally of the 11-party alliance’s Dhaka-Chattogram long march at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram today (5 September).

“We are still in parliament. If the House is made effective, we may be able to find at least some solutions to the country’s problems. But for that, a Constituent Assembly must be formed and the opposition must be given the space and role it deserves,” he said.

Addressing the government, Nahid called for dialogue with opposition parties.

“Sit together for discussions. Accept the reality that the country cannot be run by one party alone if it does not have its support,” he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s remarks that the country was facing disorder because of problems left behind by the previous authoritarian government, Nahid said the government could not use the past to avoid responsibility for current failures.

“If you cannot solve the problems, first admit it to the people. Admit that you cannot solve them alone. Admit that you have no plan to run the country,” he said.

He also warned that the government’s failure to address people’s problems could create an opening for the return of the ousted authoritarian forces.

“We are not creating any path for the ousted authoritarian regime to return. You are creating that path because you cannot solve people’s problems or secure their rights. As a result, people are looking for alternatives. At today’s long march, the people of Bangladesh have seen who those alternative forces are,” he said.

At the same time, Nahid said Bangladesh would not allow the emergence of a new authoritarian force.

“As we remain united against the ousted authoritarian regime, we will also not allow any path for a new authoritarian to emerge in Bangladesh,” he said.

Nahid criticised the government over what he described as inadequate roles for opposition lawmakers.

He said opposition MPs had not been given sufficient responsibilities or allocations, while reserved women’s seats from the BNP were being assigned such roles instead.

“The elected MPs of the opposition are not being allowed to work,” he said, alleging that parliament was consequently being turned into a one-party institution.

He also criticised BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed’s role in running parliament.

“If Mr Salahuddin can run parliament alone, then why does the opposition need to go to parliament? If he can perform the opposition’s duties as well, let him run parliament. We will remain on the streets with the people,” Nahid said.

Addressing Tarique Rahman directly, Nahid said, “Do not repeat the mistakes your father made. No authoritarian who has come to power has ultimately survived. You will not survive either.”

He also reiterated the six demands of the long march, including ending discrimination and corruption, ensuring justice for the July killings, implementing reforms, guaranteeing gas and electricity supplies and creating employment opportunities.

Nahid said the opposition would cooperate with the government if it implemented those demands.

“The opposition will cooperate with you. But if you engage in corruption and those around you form syndicates to loot the country, we will not cooperate even one bit,” he said.

Nahid also expressed uncertainty over whether opposition lawmakers would attend the next parliamentary session.

“We are still in this session. We are not yet certain whether we will attend the next one. If people’s rights and problems are not addressed through parliament, then this parliament will serve no purpose,” he said.

He urged the government to act before political tensions spill back onto the streets.

“Before parliament and the streets become one, either apologise to the people or find a way to run the country together,” he said.

Nahid warned that his party would not wait indefinitely for the government to fulfil its commitments.

“The ousted authoritarian regime kept the people waiting for 16 years. We will not wait for you. We will not wait even five years. If you break your promises to the people and betray them, you and your party will have to face the consequences,” he said.