Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam has claimed that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman rejected a proposal to form a national government.

He made the statement in a Facebook post on Wednesday (July 31), where he also said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir discussed with him the idea of an interim government and advisory council.

Nahid wrote, “Mirza Fakhrul recently claimed in an interview that no such proposal came from the student movement, and was conveyed through other channels. This is not true. At our August 5 press briefing, we clearly called for an interim national government.”

He further claimed that after the briefing, NCP representatives held a virtual meeting with Tarique Rahman, where the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement proposed forming a national government and drafting a new constitution.

“Tarique Rahman did not accept the proposal and instead suggested an interim government with civil society members,” Nahid wrote. “We then proposed Dr Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser.”

He added that in the early hours of August 7, a meeting was held at Fakhrul’s residence to discuss the interim government and advisory council. Another meeting was reportedly held with Tarique to finalise the list of advisers before oath-taking.

Nahid also stated, "No one denied Shibir’s role in the movement. But the coup was not led by Shibir alone, nor under its direction. All decisions were made in consultation with all parties. I will speak later on those trying to share power and protect group interests."    

Nahid Islam wrote, “Shibir’s role in the movement wasn’t denied, but the coup wasn’t led by them alone or under their command. Decisions were made in consultation with all parties. I’ll speak later on those seeking to share power and protect group interests.”

MSK/