NCP announces 24-point manifesto, calls for new constitution

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday unveiled a 24-point political manifesto that includes a call for drafting a new constitution through a constituent assembly. The announcement was made at a public event held at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, where NCP Convener Nahid Islam formally presented the party’s vision for a “Second Republic.”

Exactly one year after leading the July mass uprising as a general student, Nahid Islam returned to the same historic stage—this time as the top leader of a newly formed political force. Addressing a large gathering of supporters and activists, he laid out a political roadmap centered on state reform, justice, and a commitment to anti-fascist unity.

The event, originally scheduled for 4 PM, drew crowds throughout the afternoon, culminating in the official reading of the manifesto at dusk. Several central leaders of the NCP addressed the crowd beforehand, outlining key commitments including educational reform, expanded healthcare access, employment generation, and the safeguarding of national sovereignty.

Leaders strongly emphasized the need to maintain the political unity forged during the anti-government protests of July 2024. They reiterated their firm stance against any compromise with the ruling Awami League, vowing to continue their struggle until “the state structure is purified.”

In his keynote address, Nahid Islam declared the party's intention to establish a just and inclusive political order. The manifesto calls for official recognition of the July uprising, and accountability for major incidents of state violence, including the July 2024 killings, the Shapla Square massacre, the BDR mutiny deaths, and widespread enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the Awami League's tenure.

“2024 is not just about regime change,” Nahid said. “It’s about building a new dream—of a Bangladesh that guarantees justice, equality, and dignity for all.”

The manifesto also extends acknowledgment to all individuals and groups who participated in the movement to end fascist rule, suggesting the NCP’s intention to position itself as the political continuation of that struggle.