The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced a comprehensive 24-point manifesto aimed at reshaping Bangladesh’s political landscape, emphasizing the drafting of a new constitution and justice for victims of recent political violence. The announcement was made by NCP Convenor Nahid Islam at a gathering held at the Central Shaheed Minar on Sunday evening.

Nahid Islam declared that the NCP is committed to ensuring accountability for all crimes against humanity committed under the Awami League government, including the July massacre, the Shapla Square killings, the BDR mutiny, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. He emphasized that the party seeks justice and punishment for these incidents as part of their broader political agenda.

Highlighting the party’s vision for governance, Nahid Islam stated that a new constitution will be drafted through a national assembly process, signaling the creation of a “Second Republic” in Bangladesh. Institutional reforms are to be undertaken across all state bodies, with a special focus on women’s empowerment, a welfare-oriented economy, and job creation. The manifesto also includes provisions for establishing a free press and strengthening civil society as pillars of democracy.

Nahid clarified that the current political movement is not merely about changing the government but about dismantling the fascist structures embedded in the country’s governance system. He insisted that a new, democratic Bangladesh must be built on the principles of justice and liberty, free from authoritarianism.

The NCP convenor recalled that the original demand of the people was encapsulated in a nine-point agenda, which the previous government failed to implement. He stressed that the NCP’s 24-point manifesto builds upon those foundational demands with a clear commitment to prevent any form of dictatorship or fascism in the future.

He criticized the previous administration for imposing a one-sided and autocratic ideology in the name of Bengali nationalism and called for a pluralistic approach that respects diversity and democratic values.

Nahid Islam announced that the NCP will constitutionally recognize the July 2024 uprising as a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history. He described this as an integral step toward establishing a just and equitable society.

The 24-point manifesto, dubbed as the blueprint for a “Second Republic,” includes the following key commitments:

1. Drafting of a new constitution and establishing the Second Republic

2. Official recognition and judicial inquiry into the July uprising

3. Democratic reforms and institutional restructuring

4. Fair justice system and legal reforms

5. Service-oriented administration and anti-corruption measures

6. People-friendly law enforcement agencies

7. Village parliaments and decentralized local governance

8. Free and independent media and a strong civil society

9. Universal healthcare

10. Education policies aimed at nation-building

11. Advancement in research, innovation, and information technology

12. Respect for religion, community, and ethnic identity

13. Women’s security, rights, and empowerment

14. Human-centered, welfare-based economic policies

15. Youth empowerment and employment creation

16. Diversified trade and industrialization policies

17. Sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty

18. Rights of workers and farmers

19. National resource management

20. Urban development, transport, and housing planning

21. Climate resilience and protection of rivers and seas

22. Recognition and rights of expatriate Bangladeshis

23. Bangladesh-centric foreign policy

24. National defense strategy

Nahid Islam concluded by calling upon all parties involved in the anti-fascist movement to unite under this manifesto, pledging a future free from oppression and grounded in justice, democracy, and prosperity.