The National Citizen Party (NCP) has strongly condemned the denial of permission for the State Reform Movement to hold a pre-scheduled peaceful political rally at the Central Shaheed Minar. In a joint statement, the party described the incident as a blatant attack on independent political practice and constitutionally recognized freedoms of assembly.

The NCP convener and member secretary said that no political party’s democratic rights should be taken away in the new Bangladesh achieved through the July mass uprising. They alleged that the elected government was continuing an old practice of obstructing opposition and dissenting political programmes, similar to what they called the defeated authoritarian and fascist era.

The party urged the government to abandon what it termed an authoritarian and undemocratic stance and immediately ensure constitutional rights for all parties to hold peaceful, lawful meetings, rallies and programmes. It also demanded an end to the misuse of administrative and police powers against political opponents. NCP said it would resist any effort to curtail public freedom of expression and assembly, and could mobilize people nationwide if equal democratic and political opportunities are not ensured.