Nahid reiterates call for Constituent Assembly election, 'second republic'

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has called for sweeping political reforms and the election of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution for Bangladesh.

"Our political roadmap centres on three key agendas –  justice, reform and the election of a Constituent Assembly, which will also function as the next parliament," he said at an iftar mahfil hosted by the NCP in honour of diplomats from foreign missions, held at a hotel in the capital today (24 March).

Nahid emphasised that the NCP envisions a "second republic"—a Bangladesh that truly reflects the diversity of its people, and embraces a multilingual, multicultural, and inclusive society committed to the original promises of the nation's founding.

Earlier on 28 February, during the launch of NCP, Nahid called for a Constituent Assembly election, through which they aim to formulate a new constitution that will lay the foundation for Bangladesh's "second republic".

In his address today, he argued that the formation of a Constituent Assembly is essential, as "the existing constitution is fundamentally flawed".

Citing international concerns, he added, "Only through a new constitution can we lay the foundations of a genuinely democratic state. The UN human rights report specifically calls for profound structural reforms in Bangladesh."

"Our reform agenda is ambitious but necessary. We aim to dismantle the culture of impunity that has hollowed out our institutions and fundamentally restructure the political system so it truly serves all citizens," he said.

Also speaking on the occasion, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said, "Bangladesh is going through a democratic transformation and various organisations and countries of the world have an important role in this process. We hope that other countries of the world will express their position in favour of the people of Bangladesh with our reform process."

Stating that Bangladesh needs to have a multi-party democracy, Akhtar said the interim government needs to uphold a judicial process so that no "fascist force" can participate in the multi-party democracy of this country in any way.

Meanwhile, Nahid virtually joined an iftar mahfil organised by Narayanganj District NCP this evening and said the NCP will resist attempts to rehabilitate the Awami League.

"After 16 years of oppression and genocide, the Awami League cannot maintain legitimacy as a party. They should be declared a terrorist organisation," he said.