National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam on Thursday said that BNP did not agree to student leaders' proposal of a national government following the ouster of the Awami League regime on 5 August 2024.
"In a recent interview, BNP Secretary General Mr Mirza Fakhrul stated that no proposal for a national government was made to them by the students, and that they had received such a proposal through other channels. This statement is untrue," Nahid said in a post on his verified Facebook page this afternoon.
"In a press briefing on the night of 5 August, we clearly stated our intention to form an interim national government. Following that briefing, we had a virtual meeting with BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman, where the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement proposed the formation of a national government and a new constitution. Tarique Rahman did not agree to this proposal and instead suggested forming an interim government during the election period comprising members of civil society. We [then] proposed Muhammad Yunus as chief adviser."
From mid-July 2024, the then Awami League government cracked down on protesters demanding reform to the quota system in government jobs, and hundreds were killed before then prime minister and her government was ousted by a student-led mass uprising on 5 August.
The platform named Anti-Discrimination Student Movement led the quota reform protests, which later evolved into a mass uprising.
Nahid Islam was one of the key coordinators of the movement and became the adviser of the post, telecommunications and information technology ministry.
Nahid further mentioned that they met with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul at his residence in the early morning of August 7, 2025 to discuss the advisory council of the interim government.
"Before the advisory council took the oath, another meeting was held with Tarique Rahman to review and discuss the proposed members of the advisory council," Nahid said.
'Coup attempt on night of 2 August'
In the post, Nahid also said that Zulkarnain Saer, a UK-based Bangladeshi born journalist who has worked for Al Jazeera, and others had attempted a military coup on the night of 2 August 2024.
The group intended to hand over power to a section of the military, Nahid, who was one of the lead coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the time, said in a post on his verified Facebook page in the afternoon.
"… they pressured and threatened student coordinators at the so-called safe house to make a one-point declaration on Facebook that night demanding the fall of the government, and to sever all ties..."
From 26 July to 2 August, six student coordinators – including Nahid – were kept in DB custody, then called a "safe house" by authorities.
Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister, and the AL government was ousted by a student-led mass uprising on 5 August.
"Our position was that the one-point demand should be made from the ground, from among the people. And the intentions of those who were creating such pressure were suspect," Nahid said in the post.
The coordinators eventually made the one-point demand at the Central Shaheed Minar on 5 August.
He said the movement was clear on one thing, that the army or a group backed by the army can in no way be given the power, for fear of a repeat of 1/11.
On Sadik Kayem's coordinator claim
Nahid also said Sadik Kayem – a leader of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir -- was not a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Nahid alleged that Sadik Kayem claimed he was a coordinator after the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.
"The arrangements were made for Sadik Kayem to join a press briefing because of the significant role played by Shibir in the uprising. However, after the uprising, Sadik Kayem and others launched a sweeping campaign claiming that it was Shibir's Dhaka University unit that led the uprising, and we were just posters in front," the NCP convener said.
"No one has denied Shibir's role in the uprising, however, the uprising was not solely led by Shibir, nor was it carried out under their instructions or direction. We made our decisions through consultation with all sides. I will talk another day about who is now trying to divide power and protect their group's interest."
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