At a courtyard gathering in Chhatrapur School field of Bijoynagar, Brahmanbaria, last Saturday night, National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah spoke as the chief guest.

Referring to a disagreement with BNP leader Rumin Farhana, Hasnat said:

“She sent her people to check if we were facing any difficulties. She even sent us some gifts. This is a positive gesture from her. We should definitely welcome it.”

The courtyard meeting, held under the banner “A New Constitution in the Yard,” was organized by NCP’s Bijoynagar Upazila unit. The demands raised included a people’s assembly election, constitutional reforms, and judicial reforms.

Hasnat further stated:

“Some accuse us of being anti-election. But that’s not true. BNP is only speaking about elections, whereas we are talking about elections along with two other vital issues—reforms and justice. We need elections, but we also need reforms and fair trials.”

Highlighting the urgency of reforms, he added:

“Police shouldn’t be able to pick me up without a case or trial. Has this issue been resolved yet? No. If police arrest someone from home, they should at least inform the family. That hasn’t been settled either.”

Criticizing the political atmosphere, Hasnat said:

“We often hear announcements that if the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol is absent, people will print ballot boxes themselves. I am not saying everyone in a party thinks this way, but this shows a troubling mindset within politics.”

Hasnat also warned:

“The attack on Nurul Haque Nur was a signal to us. Tarique Rahman had to leave the country after signing undertakings. He was brutally tortured. The same fate awaits us if we fail to change the system. What happened to Khaleda Zia may happen to us too. That’s why we must stay united for reforms.”

Other speakers at the event included NCP joint member-secretary S M Saif Mostafiz, joint chief organizer (southern region) Mahamuda Alam, Md Ataullah, and Bijoynagar Upazila convener Aminul Haque Chowdhury.