Liberation War a founding pillar of the state: Nahid Islam

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has clarified his party's stance on several issues, citing the Liberation War as a founding pillar of the state and opposing religious extremism and secularist ideologies.

"One of the fundamental pillars of the state of Bangladesh is the Liberation War. NCP's journey is based on the ideals of equality, justice, and human dignity from the Liberation War, and the aspiration for a discrimination-free and democratic state system born from the 2024 mass uprising," Nahid said, adding that the party considers the sequence of struggle by the people of Bengal against colonialism and elitism as its political and historical basis as well.

In a Facebook post, titled "NCP's perspectives on several issues," Nahid outlined the party's positions on various matters in the post, writing that the NCP respects citizens' religious beliefs and spiritual sentiments.

"The majority religion of the people is Islam—its ethics and humanism, as well as the language, culture, and lifestyle of Bengali Muslims, are valued by the NCP. NCP will ensure the protection of the religious, cultural, and civic rights of minority religious and ethnic communities. NCP believes the state should preserve the religious and cultural integrity of every community," he wrote.

According to the post, the NCP stands firmly against "Islamophobia and communalism and does not support religious extremism or fanaticism."

"NCP does not consider either secularist or theocratic ideologies as ideals; rather, its goal is to build an inclusive democratic state through the practice of religious coexistence, harmony, and mutual responsibility and empathy," wrote Nahid.

On national identity, the statement noted, "NCP embraces a civilisational national identity instead of one based on nation, religion, or tribe. NCP will develop a national culture by embracing the civilisational identity of the Bengal delta, a confluence of many languages and cultures."

Women's empowerment was listed as a core priority in Nahid's post.

He noted, "NCP will take concrete steps to ensure women's education, health, safety, leadership, and employment."

"Under family law, NCP will work to realise women's rightful share of property," the post read.

Regarding foreign policy, the NCP has taken a strong stance against Indian regional dominance, according to the post.

"Indian hegemonism and Hindutva in South Asia pose a cultural and geopolitical threat to Bangladesh. NCP will adopt a firm political stance against these hegemonic tendencies. NCP believes Bangladesh should expand strategic relations with other states based on justice, dignity, civilisation, and national interest," the NCP convener wrote.

He also mentioned that the NCP envisions the creation of a new economic zone in the Bay of Bengal region, centred around Bangladesh.

"NCP aims to build an inequality-free, justice-based, corruption-free socio-economic system that resembles a welfare state. Education, public health, agriculture, climate, urban management, labour rights, and employment will be the key policy areas for NCP," the post noted, adding that "NCP has a vision to establish a new economic zone centered around Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal region."

Nahid reflected on the party's stance against authoritarian rule.

"NCP believes that in order to build a truly democratic state system, restructuring of the state, institutional reform, and the drafting of a new constitution are necessary. Replacing the fascist system with a new political arrangement is NCP's foremost political duty, " Nahid said.

"The first step in eliminating fascism is fundamental state reform and the formulation of a new constitution," he added.