Want visible progress of trials, implementation of July Charter before any elections: Nahid Islam

Highlights

• NCP currently focused on fulfilling conditions for registration and organisational expansion
• Reuters interview mistranslated by media, says Nahid
• NCP condemns violence against women, demands strict actions
• Iftar ceremony at Suhrawardhy Udyan with families of uprising victims on 10 March
• Solvent members of society supporting NCP
• NCP looking for crowd funding to set up office, raise funds for election

The National Citizen Party (NCP) wants visible progress in the trial process of cases filed over the July-August uprising violence and in implementation of the July Charter before holding elections, the party's Convener Nahid Islam said today (7 March).

Speaking at a press conference at the NCP headquarters in the capital's Banglamotor, he also said the July Proclamation and the July Charter are different things.

"The July Proclamation was the demand of the students, while the July Charter, as promised by the chief adviser, will be based on the commitment of the political parties for reforms through the National Consensus Commission.

"This will include documentation of what kind of reforms the political parties are seeking," Nahid stated.

The July Charter, inspired by the July movement, is a document that the interim government aims to establish by building a consensus with political parties and stakeholders on essential reforms.

Speaking to visiting US diplomats yesterday, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said the interim government will implement parts of the recommendations in the July Charter, while the rest will be implemented by the next political government.

Political parties will sign a July Charter after the conclusion of the dialogue on the reforms recommended by the six commissions, he said. "The July Charter will guide us."

Meanwhile, responding to a question on fielding candidates in all 300 constituencies in the next election, Nahid said the NCP is currently focusing on fulfilling the conditions for its registration as a political party.

"After the party's debut, we are now focusing on the conditions of registration and organisational expansion. These activities will be in full swing after Ramadan. We will think about it [fielding candidates] then."

"Urging govt to take strict steps to ensure women's safety in public places"

Speaking at today's press conference, the NCP chief also condemned the recent incidents of violence against women, eve-teasing and rape incidents.

"The [party's] first general meeting was held today. Recently, incidents of violence against women, eve-teasing, and rape have been happening in different parts of the country.

"I strongly condemn and protest these incidents. On behalf of the NCP, I urge the government to take strict steps to ensure the safety of women in public places. The accused should be brought to justice quickly."

Reuters interview mistranslated by media

Nahid also noted that his recent interview published by Reuters was mistranslated by some local media outlets.

"There was a mistranslation of yesterday's Reuters interview. [The translation claimed that] regarding the current situation, I said that elections are not possible this year.

"I did not say it like that," he said.

Providing clarification on the matter, the politician noted that he told Reuters that "in the existing law and order situation, and weak state of the police, it will be very difficult to hold elections in such a delicate environment."

He went on to say, "The current police administration does not have a long experience of holding fair elections. Their capacity has not been tested for a long time. From that viewpoint, I said that we must improve the policing system and the law-and-order situation before the elections."

Providing further clarification on his interview, Nahid said, "On economy, I said the solvent members of society are the ones who are mainly supporting us. We are going towards a crowd funding. Through this funding, we will set up our own office and raise funds for the election."

Iftar ceremony at Suhrawardhy Udyan with families of uprising victims on 10 March

Also speaking at the press conference, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain announced that the party will organise an iftar programme with the families of those martyred and injured during the July-August uprising from across the country at Suhrawardy Udyan on 10 March.

"In addition, an Iftar ceremony will be held with prominent figures, businessmen and others from across the country on 11 March," he also said