The National Citizen Party (NCP) held a protest rally today, Friday, after the Jumu’ah prayers at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, demanding the banning of the ruling Awami League and legal action against the party for alleged crimes against the people of Bangladesh. The protest echoed strong rhetoric, branding the Awami League not as a political party but a “fascist terrorist organization,” and called for its dissolution through legal and constitutional measures.

Addressing the rally, NCP Convenor Nahid Islam declared that the Awami League no longer holds the moral or political right to function on the soil of Bangladesh. Referring to alleged acts of state-sponsored violence, he argued that justice for the crimes committed by the ruling party has not yet been served and demanded immediate legal steps to ban the party and bring its members to trial. He emphasized that until justice is delivered for what he termed “massacres,” the Awami League’s political operations must be outlawed by law.

Nahid further expressed frustration over the lack of constitutional recognition for the "July Declaration," which, according to him, was a blueprint for political reform. He claimed that due to conspiracies and administrative inertia, the declaration failed to receive formal acknowledgment. He viewed this failure as part of a broader collective failure by those committed to political change in the country.

Nine months since the so-called July uprising, Nahid stated that the ongoing campaign to bring the Awami League to justice is a testament to the country's systemic failure. He lamented that one of their major pledges to the nation—ensuring justice for the previous regime’s authoritarianism—remains unfulfilled. He accused the ruling party of severely undermining the nation’s sovereignty, citing incidents such as the 2009 Pilkhana massacre and the 2013 crackdown on protesters at Shapla Chattar. Additionally, he highlighted alleged government brutality during the student-led safe roads movement, quota reform protests, and the July youth uprising.

Referring to the Awami League as a fascist and criminal entity, Nahid Islam urged for its organizational registration to be revoked and all political activities halted until legal proceedings for alleged war crimes and civilian oppression are complete.

Dr. Tasnim Zarah, the NCP’s Senior Joint Secretary, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that those involved in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings must be held accountable. She underscored that the Awami League and its affiliated organizations implicated in such actions must face justice. Without such justice, she declared, there can be no fair participation of the Awami League in any future national election, a position she believes the people of Bangladesh will enforce.

Speaking at the rally, Joint Chief Coordinator Tarikul Islam decried the delay in banning the ruling party, describing the inaction as shameful. He maintained that public opinion, not judicial indecision, should guide the move to prohibit the Awami League. According to him, the will of the people already supports the ban, and the government must act swiftly without bureaucratic resistance.

Tajnuva Zabin, a Joint Convenor of the NCP, also spoke strongly against the party in power, affirming that the Awami League has no future in Bangladesh’s political landscape. She declared that the current ruling party would never again be allowed to carry out political activities in the country.

Another NCP leader, Ashraf Uddin Mahadi, took a more aggressive tone, demanding the return and trial of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whom he accused of serious crimes. He warned that any move to proceed with national elections without structural reforms would constitute betrayal against the blood of martyrs who died during political struggles.

The rally saw the chanting of slogans such as “What we need now—Justice and Reform,” “No room for Awami League in this land,” “One Two Three Four, Awami League No More,” and “Ban Awami League Now.” These slogans sparked tension in the Gulistan area, where the demonstration was held.

Other speakers at the protest included NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Senior Joint Convenor Samanta Sharmin, Lead Organizer Sarjis Alam, Hasanat Abdullah, Joint Chief Coordinator Saifullah Hayder, Joint Convenors Atik Mujahid, Ashraf Uddin Mahadi, Tajnuva Zabin, Joint Member Secretaries Humaira Noor, Mahin Sarkar, Tahsin Riaz, Organizer Rafiqul Islam Ainee, Joint Lead Organizer Ali Naser Khan, and Organizer Mostaq Ahmed Shishir.

The protest concluded with a collective call for immediate and uncompromising steps against the Awami League, indicating that the NCP would continue its campaign until its demands are addressed in full.