Government is busy worrying about its own safety: Sarjis Alam

National Citizens Party (NCP) northern chief organizer Sarjis Alam said that the interim government is working responsibly on the July Charter. This does not reflect the aspirations of the people, but rather reflects the government's own safety concerns.

He told reporters as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Tunirhat Gold Cup Football Tournament organized by the Tunirhat Junior Football Academy at the Tunirhat Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Degree College ground in Panchagarh Sadar Upazila on Saturday (October 19) afternoon.

Sarjis Alam said, "In the morning, the convener of our National Citizens Party clearly highlighted four demands in the press briefing. These can be said to be the demands of not only the NCP, but also the people of the entire Bangladesh. But in response to the interim government, we only received some statements in a responsible manner, no effective action has been seen."

He further said, “We do not mean ‘safe exit’ by fleeing the country. Rather, we want the legal basis of the July Charter to be clearly defined, so that no party coming to power in the future can declare it invalid. But these important issues are still uncertain from the government side.”

The NCP leader said, “Our convener has already said that we have made many concessions. But now we see that the declaration remains only in name, there is no real progress. If this continues, there may be an attempt to make those who were once fighters for reform into traitors in the future.”

Regarding the clash at the July Charter signing ceremony, he said, “The family members of the martyrs should have been invited as guests at that ceremony. But an atmosphere of a political party gathering was created there, which has given rise to anger. However, the administration has used lathicharge, teargas shells and rubber bullets instead of resolving the issue peacefully—which is very sad and unacceptable.”

He alleged, “If the interim government wanted, it could have handled the matter through dialogue or other means. Now the question is – how will they take responsibility for this incident?”

Referring to the advisors, Sarjis Alam said, “Many are trying from their positions, but the expected results are not coming. That is why the major political parties of the country have not signed the July Charter. Everyone has discussed, but the government hastily signed it responsibly.”

He further added, “The interim government is more interested in ensuring its own security, not the security of the people. Their main goal is just to survive until the election day, not real reform of the country.”

Also present at the event were Kamatkajoldighi Union Parishad Chairman and District Jamaat-e-Islami Youth and Sports Department President Tofail Pradhan, former coordinator of the anti-discrimination movement Fazle Rabbi, Boda Two-Star Football Academy Director Mofazzal Hossain Bipul, Tunirhat Football XI President Nur Islam Nuru and General Secretary Hafizullah Pradhan Jewel.