At an NCP July road meeting at Gangni bus stand in Meherpur on Monday night, party Chief Organiser for the South Hasnat Abdullah MP said fugitive Sheikh Hasina would not return despite saying she would. He said calling activists out by promising a return from abroad would leave them vulnerable to mob beatings. Abdullah also made allegations and comments concerning the education ministry, home minister, BNP and the administration.

Abdullah alleged that failures by the ministry and administration had been shifted onto innocent college teachers through transfers. He claimed the home minister’s wealth had increased 25-fold and said BNP did not seek neutrality but wanted to pursue occupation-based politics like the Awami League. Addressing officials, he called for proper discharge of state duties and urged an end to extortion in building the next Bangladesh.

Chief guest Akhtar Hossain said BNP and its allies no longer wanted reforms after the vote, despite earlier public demand for reform. He called for implementing a referendum verdict. National Women’s Power member secretary Dr Mahmudah Mitu also criticised BNP and said the public knew how to resist attempts to attack NCP members. Several other NCP leaders addressed the event.