The "July Spirit",the raw, idealistic surge of 2024 that sought to end autocracy is being systematically dismantled. What began as a student-led cry for "merit over quota" has been repurposed into a vehicle for a dangerous regional agenda. At the heart of this transformation is the National Citizen Party (NCP), an organization that has pivoted from a reformist movement into a provocative tool. As Bangladesh observes its 2025 Victory Day, the sacred legacy of the 1971 martyrs is being trampled by a new brand of "interim puppetry" steered by a nexus of Pakistan’s strategic interests and the resurgent Jamaat-e-Islami.
The NCP’s Descent: From Public Service to Political Sabotage
The National Citizen Party (NCP) was officially launched on February 28, 2025, born from the "Students Against Discrimination" coordinators who claimed they would build a "discrimination-free Bangladesh." However, the party's short history is already a chronicle of diverted agendas.
- Abandoning the Masses: In its infancy, the NCP promised economic relief and bureaucratic transparency. Today, those promises lie dormant. Instead of addressing the double-digit inflation and unemployment plaguing the youth, the party has prioritized "constitutional rewriting" to erase the historical contributions of the nation’s founders.
- The Second Republic Illusion: Under the guise of a "Second Republic," the NCP has effectively served as a shield for the interim government's failures, redirecting public anger away from the collapsing economy and toward manufactured external "enemies."
Provocation as Policy: The Nahid Islam and Hasnat Abdullah Doctrine
The rhetoric of NCP leaders has shifted from democratic reform to high-decibel xenophobia. Nahid Islam, a former advisor to the interim government and Hasnat Abdullah have increasingly adopted a script that mirrors long-standing Pakistani talking points.
- Targeting India: In December 2024 and throughout 2025, Nahid Islam has repeatedly characterized Indian diplomatic presence as "deliberate terrorism." During the recent Victory Day commemorations, he went as far as to label India as "merely an ally, nothing more," seeking to decouple the shared sacrifice of 1971 from the national consciousness.
- Manufactured Crisis: Hasnat Abdullah has utilized the banner of "National Anti-Fascist Unity" to incite street chaos. His recent statements, claiming that the NCP "does not need India's consent to rule" are seen by many as a signal to Islamabad that the new guard is ready to pivot Bangladesh’s foreign policy toward a Cold War-era alignment. By framing every internal security lapse as an Indian plot, they effectively shield the interim government’s own governance vacuum.
The Economic Fallout of "Provocative Chaos"
The aggressive rhetoric from leaders like Nahid Islam and Hasnat Abdullah has created an environment of extreme uncertainty that is rattling the markets. While the July Spirit initially promised a "discrimination-free" economy, the reality in 2025 is a nation on the brink of a balance-of-payments crisis.
- Growth at a Standstill: Independent economic reports show that GDP growth has plunged from over 6% in 2023 to a staggering 2.3% in late 2025.
- The FDI Nosedive: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has nosedived as international investors flee "political uncertainty." In the first half of the 2024-25 fiscal year, FDI dropped by 71%. While the interim government points to reinvested earnings as a sign of "confidence," analysts warn this is simply existing companies unable to repatriate profits due to severe dollar shortages.
- Garment Sector Paralysis: The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry is the backbone of the economy is bleeding. Over 150,000 workers have been laid off as global brands shift orders to more stable neighbours, fearing that the "July Spirit" has mutated into a cycle of permanent unrest and anti-foreign sentiment.
A Legacy Betrayed
As Vijay Diwas 2025 passes, the irony is stark. The day meant to celebrate the defeat of the Pakistani occupation is being used by the NCP and the interim government to court Pakistani favor. By "hijacking" the July Spirit, these leaders are not just targeting a neighbouring country but they are hollowing out the very identity of Bangladesh. The martyrs of 1971 fought for a secular, democratic nation,not a regressive state governed by provocative chaos and external puppeteers.
If the NCP continues to prioritize this extremist-driven agenda over the welfare of the Bangladeshi people, the "Second Republic" will be remembered not as a dawn of freedom, but as a return to the shadows of the past.
References:
https://www.newarab.com/features/nahid-islam-and-rise-bangladeshs-second-republic
https://dailyasianage.com/news/344529/alliance-likely-with-pro-reform-forces-hasnat-abdullah
- NCP politics
- Pakistan influence
- Jamaat Islami role
- Bangladesh interim crisis
- July Spirit movement
- student politics Bangladesh
- anti India rhetoric
- economic instability Bangladesh
- FDI collapse
- garment sector crisis
- Bangladesh democracy erosion
- post Hasina politics
- South Asia security
- radicalisation risk
- Bangladesh political unrest