Dhaka: Nahid Islam became a household name after playing a key role in the students-led mass uprising in 2024, which led to the downfall of the Awami League government in Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina’s fleeing to India.
Encouraged by the massive public support, Nahid formed the National Citizens Party (NCP), Bangladesh’s first student-led and Gen Z-inspired political party.
Going into the February 12 general election with high hopes, NCP came a cropper, winning just 6 seats in the 297-member Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament).
Tarique Rahman led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a two-thirds majority, claiming 212 seats. The Jamaat won 68 seats while the Awami League was barred from participating in the election by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
Nahid, chief whip of the Opposition, has now alleged that India had a role to play in influencing results in the Bangladesh polls.
According to the 27-year-old Nahid, there was a tacit understanding between India, Awami Leage and BNP, reported Bangladeshi news outlet Prothom Alo.
Nahid made the allegations during a press conference on Thursday, citing the
recent reopening of Awami League offices by local BNP leaders.
Nahid said though the general election was conducted in a fair manner, the results were manipulated. “We accepted it the results for democracy and stability,” he said.
Nahid’s claims of collusion between BNP and Awami League came amid a resurgence of the Hasina-led party’s political activities in Bangladesh immediately after the elections.
Prothom Alo and The Business Standard reported that between February 13 and 18, activists from Awami League, and its affiliates Jubo League and Chattra League had reopened long-shuttered offices, raised flags and engaged in sloganeering in several districts like Noakhali, Panchgaon, Thakurgaon, Chattogram and others.
According to Nahid, these moves were taking place under the tacit approval of the recently sworn-in BNP government. “Without a green signal from the BNP, the Awami League would not have had the opportunity and the courage to do this,” Nahid was quoted as saying by Prothom Alo.
Nahid also alleged foreign involvement in Bangladesh’s election. “We suspect that in this election, there has been a collusion between India, the Awami League, and the BNP.”
Demanding an explanation from the new government as to how the Awami League, a banned party, was allowed to re-open offices across Bangladesh, Nahid said: “If they fail to immediately close those offices administratively, then we will call for political resistance. For that, we will also hold this government accountable for rehabilitating fascists.”