Election “Not Possible” Under Current Security Conditions: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has reiterated that holding elections under the current security conditions in Bangladesh is “not possible.”

In an interview with AFP, published today, Nahid expressed concerns over law and order, saying the country is still grappling with security challenges after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

His remarks echo an earlier interview with Reuters, published Thursday, where he said that the interim government has yet to fully ensure public safety, making it difficult to organize national elections this year.

However, speaking at a press conference at the party’s Banglamotor headquarters this afternoon, Nahid clarified that his words had been misinterpreted. “I didn’t say to Reuters that elections this year are impossible,” he said. Instead, he explained:

“Given the fragile state of law enforcement and the lack of recent experience in managing a credible election, conducting polls under these conditions would be extremely challenging. Before holding elections, we must strengthen our police force and overall law and order. This requires not just government efforts but also cooperation from political parties and civil society.”

He also dismissed allegations that the NCP was trying to delay elections, calling them false accusations.

Criticizing the broader political landscape, Nahid said many parties lack interest in pursuing deep-rooted reforms – even those that protesters fought for.

“Because we have an obligation to implement what we pledged during the mass uprising and its aftermath, we decided to form a political party,” he said.

Despite uncertainty over whether the NCP will win power, Nahid is confident that his movement will leave a lasting impact.

“Nobody knew that there would be an uprising, but it happened,” he said. “I sincerely hope and I believe that we are going to win this time. But this election is not the end of the world… Our target is to sustain this energy for another 50 or 100 or more years.”

The NCP is at odds with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over the timing of the next elections. While Nahid has argued for improving security before heading to the polls, BNP insists that elections must be held as soon as possible to restore a government with a public mandate.

Since its launch last month, the NCP has faced debates over ideological differences. After pressure from right-wing groups, the party removed an activist known for advocating LGBTQ+ rights from its leadership committee. 

“We believe in inclusivity, but there are certain boundaries set by religious and cultural norms,” Nahid said

However, he emphasized that the NCP still represents a diverse range of voices. “We have brought women to the forefront and included representatives from all castes and creeds,” he said. “We will strive to ensure that all citizens can enjoy their rights.”