Abdus Sattar, the Nilphamari district amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a lawmaker for Nilphamari-1, alleged that the current government is moving toward the emergence of “new fascism.” He made the remarks while presiding over a public rally at Nilphamari DC Mor on Saturday afternoon, organized by the party’s district unit to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising.

Sattar said people could not be kept away from all political activities until the public verdict of a referendum was implemented and reforms under the July Charter took effect. He said the country’s people were prepared to make sacrifices again if necessary. He also claimed that various actions by the current government had created public concern.

He said people would not accept efforts to develop the state structure while ignoring elected lawmakers from opposition parties. Sattar called for elected representatives to be involved in national development and state administration, and for the country to be governed through democratic processes that give importance to public opinion. After the rally, participants held a protest procession through major roads in Nilphamari town, ending at Bazar Traffic Mor.