National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has accused the government of showing signs of a new authoritarian trend, warning that both the former authoritarian forces and what he described as emerging authoritarianism would be defeated.

He demanded the resignation of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and the Energy Minister, holding them responsible for what he described as the government’s failures. He warned that protest activities would be expanded if the ministers did not step down.

Nahid made the remarks on Friday afternoon at a mass protest rally in Shahbagh, Dhaka, organised around a four-point set of demands.

Addressing the gathering, he said rising commodity prices, gas and electricity shortages, violence, extortion and deteriorating law and order had made everyday life increasingly difficult for ordinary people.

He accused the government of failing to ensure public safety, arguing that the Home Minister bore the greatest responsibility for the situation. Nahid also criticised Salahuddin Ahmed, claiming that instead of focusing on his ministerial responsibilities, he was preoccupied with constitutional amendment-related activities.

The NCP leader said one of the key commitments of the July uprising and the referendum held on the basis of the July Charter was the formation of a Constitution Reform Council. However, he alleged that the government had disregarded that commitment and unilaterally formed a constitutional amendment committee.

He demanded the immediate cancellation of the committee and the establishment of a Constitution Reform Council. He also reiterated his call for the Energy Minister to resign.

Nahid further accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of moving away from commitments made in its election manifesto, its 31-point reform proposal and the July Charter. He claimed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman lacked a clear plan for governing the country and alleged that the government was moving towards corruption, looting, extortion and land grabbing.

Referring to the possibility of the Awami League returning to political activity in December, Nahid said the current government would be unable to confront the situation. He called on the forces behind the July uprising and young people to unite once again.

He also addressed Bangladesh’s relations with India, alleging that efforts were underway to destabilise the country. Citing killings of Bangladeshis along the border, unrest in the hill districts and persecution of Muslims in different parts of India, he accused the government of failing to respond adequately to these challenges.

Nahid opposed granting India a transit corridor through Bangladesh, saying the country’s people would not accept any unauthorised corridor. He warned that people would launch another movement if the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty was not renewed fairly in December.

The NCP convener said his party would work to free people from violence and land grabbing. He also announced that NCP leaders Nasiruddin Patwary and Asif Mahmud would contest the upcoming local government elections in Dhaka South and Dhaka North, respectively.

He said NCP members, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and activists involved in the July uprising would work to secure their victories.

NCP Member Secretary and Member of Parliament Akhtar Hossain also addressed the rally. He said the country had not improved following the election and claimed that the BNP itself had failed to put its affairs in order.

Questioning gas prices, Akhtar asked why consumers in Bangladesh had to pay Tk 2,500 when gas was reportedly available for Tk 1,000 in Kolkata.

He also criticised rising commodity prices, saying prices of essential goods generally increase around budget announcements. Although the BNP government had claimed that no products became more expensive during the budget period, he said prices had continued to rise before, during and after the budget.

NCP Senior Joint Convener Nasiruddin Patwary said the party’s convener and member secretary were working persistently to build a new Bangladesh and improve people’s living conditions.

He described the Shahbagh rally as the beginning of a movement to rebuild Dhaka, adding that future demonstrations would spread to cities and neighbourhoods across the country.

Patwary said the commitment made during the July uprising to build a new Bangladesh must be fulfilled. He called for justice for those killed during the uprising and demanded justice in the murder of Osman Hadi.

NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said the party would be ready to assume power within the next five years. Addressing rally participants, he called for a substantial expansion of public support for the party in the coming days.