Mirza Fakhrul’s statement on national government formation not true: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has rejected BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s statement that no proposal for forming a national government was submitted by the student movement.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nahid Islam said that following a press briefing on August 5, a virtual meeting was held with BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. During this meeting, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement presented a proposal for an interim national government and a new constitution. However, Tarique Rahman did not agree and instead suggested forming an interim government composed of members from civil society, with Dr. Muhammad Yunus as a possible chief adviser.

Nahid also confirmed that further discussions about the interim government and the advisory council took place on August 7 at Mirza Fakhrul’s residence. Another meeting was held with Tarique Rahman before the advisory council members took their oaths.

Addressing internal disputes, Nahid said Sadiq Kaiyum was never an official coordinator of the student movement but had claimed the position since August 5. He accused Sadiq Kaiyum of spreading misleading information, emphasizing that the recent uprising was not solely led or directed by any single faction.

The Facebook post also addressed an alleged failed military coup attempt on 2 August, led by Zulkarnain Saer and his associates. Nahid alleged that this group attempted to transfer power to a section of the military and used coercion and threats to pressure student leaders at a so-called “safe house” into making a unilateral Facebook announcement calling for the government's fall — and to sever communication with the broader student movement. He cited writings by activist Rifat to support this claim.

He stressed that handing over power to the military or military-backed groups must be avoided to prevent a repeat of past military interventions and to protect the country’s defense forces. The student movement has since called for a spontaneous popular uprising inclusive of all political parties.

Nahid accused Saer's faction of ongoing attempts to establish a rival leadership within the movement, using Sadiq Kaiyum and conducting smear campaigns, surveillance, and propaganda against their leadership.

“Lies do not last long, and these will not either,” Nahid concluded.