The National Citizen Party (NCP)—widely viewed as a political vehicle shaped under the influence of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus and a key ally of the Jamaat-led Islamist alliance that has campaigned against India for years—has issued a sharp warning on water sharing.
NCP convener Md. Nahid Islam said that if Ganges water does not reach Bangladesh, Indian goods will also stop entering the country. He insisted that any relationship with India must guarantee Bangladesh its fair share of river water. Failing that, he demanded an end to the entry of Indian products, corridors and transit facilities.
He made the remarks on Sunday (1 November) while addressing the National Youth Conference at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium in Dhaka, held on the occasion of National Youth Day.
“If water does not come in the river, Indian goods will not come to Bangladesh either. If water does not come, there will be no corridor and no transit. If water does not flow in Bangladesh’s rivers, no Indian channel will operate in this country,” Nahid said. “We remember the history of Maulana Bhashani. He led the historic Long March towards Farakka. InshaAllah, if the situation demands it, we are ready to march again.”
He also criticised the government’s foreign dealings. “The government is going door to door seeking loans, yet no one trusts it or is willing to lend. Japan is a friendly country and has invested in Bangladesh before. But the people must be told clearly what agreements the government is signing with Japan over the Matarbari project. We will not allow any national agreement to be passed without full discussion in parliament and without removing all ambiguity. If this deal tries to give India any illegal corridor or transit facilities, the people of Bangladesh will resist it, InshaAllah.”
On constitutional reform, Nahid rejected any role for Salauddin Ahmed. “Salauddin Sahib has sought opinions on amending the constitution. We have nothing to say to him. Who is he to ask for opinions? They are now inviting opposition parties for talks, but the discussions were already completed before the election. There is nothing left to negotiate. Now is the time for implementation. A Constitution Reform Council must be formed immediately and the constitution must be reformed according to the public verdict of the referendum. Anything else will be rejected by the people of Bangladesh, by the opposition, by the young generation and by the workers.”
He also backed the ongoing workers’ movement for fair wages, noting that the government had raised pay for its own employees while wages of workers and private-sector staff remained unchanged. “We do not accept this discrimination. Fair wages for workers must be fixed immediately.”
Special guests at the conference included NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain and senior joint convener Nasiruddin Patwary. The event was chaired by Youth Power convener Advocate Tarikul Islam and conducted by Youth Power member secretary Engineer Farhad Sohel.