Implement July Charter or face another uprising: Nahid 

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam warned of launching another mass movement and uprising if the government failed to implement the July Charter in line with the referendum verdict.

Speaking at an 11-party unity divisional rally at Hemayet Uddin Eidgah Maidan in Barisal on Saturday, Nahid alleged that although 70 per cent of voters had endorsed state reforms in the referendum, the government had yet to take effective steps to implement the July Charter.

"If the government does not implement the July Charter in light of the referendum verdict, we will be forced to go to mass movements and uprisings," he warned.

Claiming that the government was making verbal commitments without tangible action, Nahid said, "Seventy per cent of people voted in favour of reforms in the referendum. Yet the July Charter is still not being implemented. They say it will be implemented in letter and spirit, but that is not reflected in practice."

He said the NCP had so far refrained from announcing any hard-line programmes but was prepared to escalate its agitation if necessary.

"We have not yet given any strict programme. We have not even gone to programmes like hartals and blockades. But we are ready to take any decision if the situation moves in that direction," he explained.

Addressing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Nahid invoked a slogan from the July mass uprising.

"During the mass uprising, our slogan was, 'Leave drama,piyo.' I am telling Tarique Rahman too, 'Leave drama, piyo.' Just because the people of Bangladesh have given you power does not mean you can do whatever you want or deceive the people of this country," he asserted.

Launching a scathing attack on the BNP, the NCP chief alleged that the party had abandoned its commitment to democratic reforms after assuming office.

"BNP has fought for democracy for the past 16 years, but unfortunately, since August 5, they have been fighting against democracy. The truth is BNP has never been in favour of democracy. They fought for power. They joined hands with us during the mass uprising for power. Now that they have secured power through the election, they are no longer talking about reforms," Nahid said.