Nahid threatens to ‘besiege’ PM if home, energy ministers do not resign

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has demanded the resignation of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku over alleged failures in their respective responsibilities, threatening to besiege Prime Minister Tarique Rahman if they do not step down.

“The two ministers have failed in their respective roles. They must resign. Otherwise, we will hold rallies across the country and march to besiege Mr Tarique Rahman to realise our demands,” he made the remarks at a mass protest rally organised by the NCP’s Dhaka North and South units in Shahbagh today (30 October), pressing for the implementation of four demands.

He also accused the BNP government of abandoning its commitments in the election manifesto, 31-point reform agenda and July Charter, alleging that its agenda was to promote corruption, looting, extortion and land grabbing.

“The BNP government has no plan to run the country. Its plan is to figure out how to engage in corruption, loot public resources, extort money, establish a reign of terror and consolidate control through land grabbing. Tarique Rahman came to Dhaka from London with this plan,” he said.

Nahid said, “People were suffering from gas and electricity shortages, rising commodity prices, terrorism and violence, while shopkeepers, small business owners and ordinary citizens were facing growing difficulties.”

He also alleged that institutions across the country were being politicised and that the law and order situation had deteriorated, leaving people without adequate security.

“The government has completely failed to ensure public safety. The person who bears the greatest responsibility for this failure is Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed,” he said.

Calling the constitutional amendment committee a one-sided initiative, Nahid demanded its immediate dissolution and the formation of a Constitution Reform Council.

He also expressed concern over reports that the ousted authoritarian leader might return to Bangladesh in December, questioning whether the current government would be able to confront the Awami League.

“The BNP could not protect the people of Bangladesh from the Awami League. They could not even protect themselves. How will they protect the people?” he said.

The NCP’s four demands are the resignation of the home and energy ministers over their failures; the dissolution of the one-party constitutional amendment committee and formation of a constitution reform council based on the public mandate expressed through the referendum; the repeal of all laws that undermine human rights and freedom of speech, and rejection of the proposed amendments to the Cyber Security Act; and completion of the trial of the July massacre and immediate implementation of the verdicts.

Corridor, Ganges water-sharing treaty

Referring to border killings, unrest in the hills, alleged persecution of Muslims in Assam and West Bengal, and reported plans to demolish a mosque in Delhi, Nahid said the current government would not be able to protect Bangladesh from what he described as India’s conspiracies.

He alleged that during his recent visit to Japan, Tarique Rahman had again attempted to hand over an illegal corridor through Bangladesh to India.

“We want to make it clear that the people of Bangladesh will not accept any such illegal corridor,” he said.

Nahid also called for a fair renegotiation of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty in December, warning that people would take to the streets again if Bangladesh’s rightful share was not ensured.

“We will not compromise even an inch on our rightful share in the Ganges water-sharing agreement,” he said.