After Hasina's fall, Tarique didn't agree on students' proposal for nat'l govt, new constitution, Nahid says refuting Fakhrul's claim

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has dismissed recent remarks by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Islami Chhatra Shibir's Central Publication Secretary Shadik Kayem, terming them "false and misleading".

In a detailed Facebook post today (31 July), Nahid addressed the two issues separately.

On BNP's claim about the national government proposal

Nahid said Mirza Fakhrul's statement that the BNP did not receive any proposal from students regarding the formation of a national government was "untrue".

In an interview with Prothom Alo, published on 26 July, Fakhrul said, "After 5 August [following the fall of Hasina], either on that very day or the day after, we did not meet any of the leaders from the Students Against Discrimination Movement. We never received such a proposal. It did not come from the students; it may have come from other quarters.

"But the students themselves did not make such a proposal for forming a national government." 

On this, Nahid wrote, "In our press briefing on the night of 5 August, we clearly said we wanted an interim national government. After that, we held a virtual meeting with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, where we proposed the formation of a national government and a new constitution."

"Tarique Rahman did not agree with this proposal and instead suggested forming an election-time interim government with members from civil society. We proposed the name of Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser," he added. 

Nahid further stated, "On the morning of 7 August, we met Mirza Fakhrul at his residence and discussed the interim government and advisory council. Before the council took oath, another meeting was held with Tarique Rahman to review the proposed members."

On Shadik Kayem's claims

Responding to allegations made by Shadik Kayem during a recent talk show, Nahid said, "Shadik's claim that Shibir was involved in forming Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti and that we worked under their instruction is false."

"Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti was formed by members from the 'Gurubar Adda' study circle and former Dhaka University Chhatra Adhikar leaders who had resigned, along with a study circle from Jahangirnagar University," he added. 

He clarified, "We have been active in campus politics for eight years, so we knew all organisations and their leadership and maintained communication with everyone, including Dhaka University Shibir. But communication or occasional cooperation does not mean they were involved in our political process."

Nahid claimed that Shadik Kayem was never a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination Movement. 

"He started using this identity only from 5 August. Due to Shibir's significant role in the uprising, arrangements were made for him to sit at the press briefing. Later, they propagated the narrative that the Dhaka University Shibir led the uprising, and we were merely the face. Nobody denied Shibir's role, but it was neither their sole effort nor was it done under their instruction."

"We made decisions through communication with all sides. Who is trying to share power or protect group interests - that's something I will talk about another day," he added.

Nahid also accused a quarter led by journalist Zulkarnain Saer of attempting to create counter-leadership after the uprising. 

"They used people like Shadik Kayem for this purpose, and they came into use. These efforts continue with call record leaks, surveillance, character assassination, propaganda, and misinformation campaigns. But lies do not last, and neither will they," he stated.

On 4 October 2023, the Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti's 21-member central convening committee was formed with Akhtar Hossain, former social services secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu), as the convener, and Nahid Islam as the member secretary.

Chhatra Shakti leaders were at the forefront of the movement that led to the ouster of the Awami League government on 5 August. Within a year of its establishment, all committees of the platform were dissolved.

On alleged army coup attempt

On the night of 2 August 2024, Zulkarnain Saer and his associates attempted to orchestrate a military coup, aiming to bring a faction of the armed forces to power.

"For this, they threatened us to announce a one-point demand for government overthrow on Facebook that night and cut off communication with us," he wrote. 

"Our stance was clear: the announcement had to come from the ground, from the people. We strongly opposed any plan to hand power to the military or a military-backed group, as it would lead to another 1/11 scenario and pave the way for Awami League's return, damaging our defence forces," Nahid added.

"Our position since 5 August has been to make this a spontaneous people's uprising and move forward with political parties," he concluded.