The National Citizen Party (NCP) held a rally at Central Shaheed Minar in the capital this afternoon. Photo: BSS

 
DHAKA, Aug 3, 2025 (BSS) – The National Citizen Party (NCP) today unveiled its first official manifesto, outlining a sweeping agenda for structural reforms aimed at dismantling the existing authoritarian system and building a “Second Republic” grounded in democracy, justice, and people’s power.
 
The manifesto includes a pledge to form a new constitution through a constituent assembly, recognising as well as seeking justice for the July uprising, along with reforms to democracy and state institutions.
 
The 24-point manifesto titled “Manifesto for a New Bangladesh,” unveiled at NCP's rally in the capital's Central Shaheed Minar this afternoon, marking the first anniversary of the July 2024 mass uprising that catalyzed a nationwide student-led resistance against a long-standing autocratic regime.
 
NCP leader Nahid Islam, convener of the party and a key figure of July mass uprising, said the manifesto reflects the voices of those who bled on the streets, declaring, “This is not a party programme—it is the unfinished dream of the martyrs.”
 
“To fulfill the aspirations of July, this new constitution will dismantle authoritarianism, dynastic politics, and fascist structures, laying the foundation for a Second Republic—democratic, inclusive, equitable, and centered on public welfare,” said Nahid Islam.
 
The party declared that it will build a participatory, decentralized, and secular republic ensuring full separation of powers and the protection of civil liberties for all citizens regardless of class, creed, or identity.
 
Nahid Islam said NCP envisions building a state of justice where all state institutions function impartially—free from bias based on religion, ethnicity, or social class—and serve the people with integrity and compassion.
 
“We want institutions that are humane, neutral, and oriented toward public service,” he said, adding, “Their core principle must be service to the people, not submission to power.”.
 
NCP promised to constitutionally recognize the July 2024 Uprising as a legitimate people’s revolution, committing to enact a new “July Declaration” that honors the students, workers, and ordinary citizens who sacrificed their lives for democratic restoration.
 
The party vowed to ensure justice for all victims of state repression, promising full state compensation for the families of those killed or maimed during the uprising, and pledging independent judicial investigations into enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and extrajudicial killings—including the BDR massacre and high-profile political assassinations.
 
NCP announced it will initiate radical bureaucratic reforms aimed at dismantling politicization and ensuring merit-based, transparent, and accountable public administration, with citizen oversight mechanisms in place.
 
In the realm of law enforcement, NCP laid out a bold vision for a reformed security apparatus in a new Bangladesh—one that prioritizes human rights over repression, and justice over fear.
“We want to build a country where no law enforcement agency can abduct an ordinary citizen without a warrant, where fear is no longer a tool of the state,” Nahid declared.
 
To prevent political misuse of the police and law enforcement agencies, the NCP proposes establishing a permanent and independent Police Commission. This body would oversee transfers and postings with transparency and fairness.
 
“No arrest should be made without a warrant or a clearly stated reason. And the name, rank, and identity of the arresting officer must be explicitly disclosed,” Nahid said.
 
This vision, he said, was not a mere political agenda—it was a promise born of the July Uprising and rooted in the people’s demand for a democratic and humane republic.
 
To restore the rule of law, the manifesto proposed the digitization of court systems, simplification of legal procedures, and time-bound resolution of cases, along with protections for whistleblowers and political prisoners.
 
The NCP called for sweeping electoral reforms, including restructuring the Election Commission into a truly independent constitutional body, and introducing direct elections for 100 reserved parliamentary seats for women to ensure gender justice and participatory democracy.
 
The party reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom, promising to repeal repressive laws such as the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act emphasizing that a truly democratic Bangladesh cannot exist without a free press and a vibrant, independent civil society.
 
“We believe in one hundred percent media freedom and we will ensure it through a robust legal and policy framework,” said Nahid.
 
He outlined his party’s commitment to reforming the existing Press Council to make it more relevant and effective in today’s context. The aim, he said, was to protect journalists’ rights while ensuring media accountability to the people—not to corporations, political parties, or vested interests.
 
“No single individual, group, or corporation should be allowed to monopolize the ownership of multiple media houses. The media must not become a tool in the hands of political parties—it must remain answerable to the public.”
 
On economic policy, the manifesto rejected GDP-centric neoliberal models, instead advocating for a human development-based economy that prioritizes equitable wealth distribution, environmental sustainability, and universal access to healthcare, education, and social security.
 
“We will not measure development by GDP alone,” he said. “Food, housing, healthcare, education, internet access—and the protection of people and nature—will be our true yardsticks.”
 
Outlining a welfare-driven economic vision, Nahid called for investment not only in skills but in human values and social responsibility. He promised to institutionalize unemployment benefits, pensions for the elderly, allowances for widows and children, and full rehabilitation for street children and the homeless.
 
A competitive, corruption-free market system will be prioritized. “We’ll dismantle business syndicates, break the hold of oligarchs, and support small and medium enterprises,” he said.
 
The NCP pledged to ensure food sovereignty by supporting local farmers, resisting corporate land grabs, and investing in agro-ecological innovation to protect the country’s self-sufficiency in a changing climate.
 
Nahid outlined a sweeping plan to tackle Bangladesh’s youth unemployment crisis, calling for structural reforms in job creation, skill development, and transparency in recruitment.
 
“With nearly two-thirds of the country’s three million unemployed being youth, we must act decisively,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure every capable citizen has access to dignified employment—at home or abroad.”
 
Nahid pledged to diversify export-oriented, labor-intensive industries and expand paid internships across both public and private sectors to equip students with practical skills. He also vowed to eliminate corruption, favoritism, and question leaks in competitive job exams by introducing a unified, grade-based testing system.
 
“We want our youth to be the engine of progress—not victims of a broken system,” Nahid concluded, announcing plans to establish international-standard sports complexes in every district to counter drug abuse and crime among the young.
 
In its climate policy, the party promised a green industrial transformation, investment in renewable energy, and climate justice measures for frontline communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and displacement.
 
To bridge urban-rural inequality, the NCP proposed the creation of locally elected “village parliaments” with financial autonomy, aiming to decentralize power and planning to the grassroots level.
 
The party emphasized the rights of marginalized communities, promising to abolish discriminatory quotas, establish constitutional safeguards against caste- and ethnicity-based oppression, and ensure political representation of religious minorities and indigenous peoples.
 
For expatriate Bangladeshis, NCP outlined a commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of expatriate Bangladeshis, calling them not just remittance-senders but “ambassadors of the nation and partners in its rebuilding.”
 
He emphasized recognizing the crucial role of over 15 million expatriates during the July uprising, pledging formal state recognition for their solidarity. “They stood with us when it mattered most,” Nahid said. “We will stand by them now.”
 
His proposals include ensuring accessible healthcare and welfare for migrant workers, hassle-free repatriation of deceased workers’ remains, and full state support for their families. He vowed to secure voting rights for expatriates and guarantee harassment-free services at embassies and airports.
 
In foreign policy, NCP has committed to pursuing an independent and principled foreign policy that prioritizes Bangladesh’s sovereignty and national interests above narrow party agendas. Convener Nahid Islam stated, “Our foreign relations will be based on mutual respect and equality, firmly opposing any foreign interference in our internal affairs.”
 
The manifesto emphasized ending border killings and securing fair water-sharing agreements through strong diplomatic engagement at the highest levels. NCP pledges a humanitarian resolution to the Rohingya crisis via bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
 
The party also promised to strengthen ties with Muslim-majority countries and actively engage with regional and global organizations such as SAARC, ASEAN, OIC, NAM, and the United Nations on issues of peace, democracy, economic security, environment, and climate change.
 
The party proposed the establishment of a national archive of resistance to document the struggles of workers, peasants, and students who have historically resisted oppression in Bangladesh.
 
NCP also pledged to revisit the history curriculum taught in schools to include critical and inclusive narratives of the Liberation War, the 1971 genocide, and the democratic movements that followed.
 
To combat corruption, the manifesto outlined plans for a permanent anti-corruption commission staffed by independent appointees selected through a transparent and multi-stakeholder process.
 
Nahid said, “On this day last year, we declared from this Shaheed Minar the historic one-point demand to abolish the fascist system. This historic one-point demand was not announced on behalf of any individual, party, or organization.”
 
“It was declared on behalf of the people of Bangladesh, by the students and masses of the country. The true announcers of the one-point demand are the people of Bangladesh, the uprising student-masses, and our martyred brothers and sisters,” he said.
 
He also said, “Exactly one year ago today, right here at this Shaheed Minar, we pledged to free this country from the grip of autocracy. Because you responded to that call, together we have defeated the fascist regime and reclaimed our authority over the nation.
 
“Today, once again from this Shaheed Minar, we call upon you — let us unite to turn this historic 24-point plan into reality and build a new Bangladesh that fulfills the dreams of all its citizens through the establishment of our Second Republic,” he added.
 
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said, “We want a system where every public representative, from the prime minister down to the union member, must answer to the public. We must also protect Bangladesh's institutions from being politicised.”
 
NCP Chief Organiser (north) Sarjis Alam said, “The Constitution of '72 was the constitution of one party. Its draft was passed in another country. We no longer want this Mujibist constitution to remain in Bangladesh. We have come here to dismantle and end the Mujibist constitution and demand a new one.”
 
Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah said, “It has been a year since the July Revolution. For the past year, we have only spoken; now is the time to act. We know NCP activists are being threatened and obstructed in various areas. But remember this: from Rupsha to Patharia, if anyone even looks the wrong way at an NCP worker, we will respond politically. We will not back down in the face of threats or intimidation.”
 
 Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary, Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara, Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud,  Senior Joint Conveners Monira Sharmin and Samantha Sharmin and Joint Member Secretary Akram Hossain also addressed the rally.
 
Processions of leaders and activists from various districts, metropolitan and upazila units were seen arriving under banners of NCP, NCP labour wing and the Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad.