National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has accused the BNP of betraying the mass uprising and disregarding the people's verdict in the referendum.He made the remarks during an exchange of views with journalists at the Zila Parishad Hall in Gaibandha on Friday morning, ahead of an NCP regional coordination meeting.“We believe the BNP government is still in power by force. History has shown that many people have held power through force, but none of them could remain in power for long,” Nahid said.

He said the NCP was conducting various programmes in preparation for the upcoming local government elections and had made comprehensive preparations to participate in the polls.

“We are holding these exchanges with journalists as part of our preparations. No one can remain in power for long by force. If the BNP wants to remain in power for five years, it must implement the verdict of the referendum and the July Charter,” he said.

Nahid urged the public to examine who was responsible for creating disunity in the country.

“Since August 5, those who have focused solely on securing their own positions and coming to power, rather than changing the country and implementing reforms, are the ones responsible for creating disunity. Now they are talking about national unity when they are unable to confront the Awami League,” he said.

The NCP convener said his party had played a key role in ousting the fascist government, securing a ban on its activities and bringing those responsible to justice, describing these achievements as the outcomes of the student-led mass uprising.

“But what steps has the BNP taken so far against the fascist Awami League? Instead, the BNP has taken steps to rehabilitate the Awami League. We witnessed this before the election, and we are still seeing it. There is an understanding between the BNP and the Awami League. We urge the BNP to reconsider its position,” he said.

Nahid also criticised BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for allowing the Awami League to return to politics, saying the party had subsequently paid a heavy price for that decision.

“Tarique Rahman had to spend 16 years abroad, while Begum Khaleda Zia spent years in prison, where her health gradually deteriorated. If the BNP fails to learn from that experience, I cannot say what consequences it may face,” he said.

Following the exchange of views with journalists, Nahid attended a regional coordination meeting at the Zila Parishad auditorium, where the party's organisational progress was reviewed and strategies for the upcoming local government elections were discussed.