He made the remarks at a press conference held at the party’s temporary office in Bangla Motor, Dhaka, on Saturday afternoon.
Nahid Islam criticized recent comments made by BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, who reportedly referred to the injured July fighters as “followers of the fascist Awami League.”
“We strongly condemn and protest such remarks,” Nahid said. “Perhaps he spoke out of ignorance or misinformation. He was not in the country for a long time, was not here during the July Uprising, and was not on the streets. So maybe he doesn’t know who was on the frontlines, who faced bullets, and who fought for the people.”
Expressing deep frustration, Nahid continued, “When someone like Atiqul Gazi—who lost his hand in the movement—is called a friend of the fascist Awami League, or when the fathers of martyrs Mir Mughde and Yamin are labeled in that way, it becomes extremely painful for us. We urge him to withdraw his statement immediately and apologize to the injured fighters and families of the martyrs.”
Calling on Salahuddin Ahmed to learn about the history of the July Uprising, the NCP leader said, “Sit with the July fighters, listen to their stories, and understand the history of how they fought and how this country gained freedom. Only then can one realize their sacrifice.”
The press conference was attended by NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and other central leaders.
The July National Charter, described as a historic milestone in Bangladesh’s political history, was signed on Friday (October 17) by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and top leaders of 24 political parties at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building.
After the signing ceremony, Dr. Yunus said, “Today will serve as a great example for the world. I applaud the leaders of all political parties and the members of our Consensus Commission for making the impossible possible. Their names will remain immortal in history.”
However, the National Citizens Party (NCP) comprising leaders of the July Uprising refrained from signing the charter. Their main objection was that the document lacked a clear outline or legal framework for implementation. Several left-leaning parties, including the CPB, BSD, Bangladesh JSD, and BSD (Marxist), also abstained from signing.
Before the signing ceremony began, a group of July Warriors entered the Parliament Building premises and gathered in front of the stage. When police attempted to remove them, clashes broke out between the protesters and law enforcement.
During the confrontation, incidents of baton-charging, brick-throwing, vandalism of police vehicles, and arson were reported on the road outside. Several people, including police officers and members of the July Warriors, were injured in the violence.
