National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has claimed that BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman rejected a proposal to form a national government and draft a new constitution during a virtual meeting with anti-discrimination student leaders on 5 August last year.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Nahid said Tarique instead proposed forming an election-time interim government comprising civil society figures.
The claim contradicts BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s recent statement that the proposal for a national government did not originate from student leaders. Nahid termed Fakhrul’s version “untrue”, stating that student representatives formally presented the proposal to Tarique Rahman in a meeting following a press briefing on 5 August.
According to Nahid, further discussions took place on 7 August at Fakhrul’s residence, followed by another virtual session with Tarique to review proposed adviser names.
In the same post, Nahid responded to a claim by Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Sadiq Kaiyum, who alleged in a talk show that the student platform “Chhatra Shakti” was guided by Shibir. Nahid denied the claim, explaining that Chhatra Shakti emerged from study circles involving activists from Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities, and had no organisational ties to Shibir — despite maintaining communication with all student groups during years of activism.
He also said Sadiq Kaiyum was never in a coordination role within the movement, but was allowed to join the 5 August press briefing due to Shibir’s visible participation in the protest. Nahid accused Sadiq of later promoting a distorted narrative that Shibir had led the entire uprising.
The post further alleged a failed military coup attempt on 2 August, led by Zulkarnain Saer and his associates, who allegedly tried to pressure student leaders into supporting a military-backed transition. Nahid stated that this group coerced activists into issuing a Facebook call for the government’s removal from a “safe house,” a move he said the core movement rejected.
Citing writings by activist Rifat, Nahid argued that the student movement has always opposed military interference and insisted on mass-led political change, warning that any deviation could mirror the events of 2007 and allow the ruling Awami League to return to power.
Nahid also accused the Zulkarnain faction of undermining the movement through surveillance, disinformation, and attempts to install rival leadership. He condemned what he described as unprecedented propaganda campaigns, even targeting government ministers.
“But falsehood has a short lifespan,” Nahid wrote. “Those depending on it will not last.”
LND/SAE
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