Muhammad Ilias, Rangamati

Leaders of the Jatiya Nagorik Party held a meeting with media workers in Rangamati on Thursday (May 15) at 11 am. Jatiya Nagorik Party’s Chittagong South Region (Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar) regional supervisor Emon Syed presided over the special exchange of views with journalists from print and electronic media organized by the Jatiya Nagorik Party at Amar Bari Restaurant in Banarupa, the district town, on Thursday (May 15) at 11 am.

During the interaction with the media, the leaders of the National Citizens Party held a constructive and analytical discussion on the political reality of the hilly region, inequality, development, harmony, and the future plans of the National Citizens Party. The meeting was attended by central leader Sarwar Alam, labor wing organizer Colin Chakma, search committee members Md. Imam Hossain Emu, Bipin Chakma, Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Ujjwal Chakma, Shahidul Islam, Priyo Chakma, Md. Shakil and Sayeda Islam Sadia, among others.

At the beginning of the meeting, Emon Syed said, “No democratic state can be truly stable without an honest, courageous, and responsible media.” Journalists are not just news distributors, they are also one of the driving forces for social change. “Just as their pens protest against injustice, they also show the way to society by highlighting truth and justice.”

He expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to the journalists who took the time to participate in this exchange of views. During the meeting, the leaders expressed their views on various important issues, especially the long-standing neglect of the hilly region, development disparities, the complexity of the relationship between the hilly and Bengali communities, and how to overcome this crisis and build unity based on harmony.

At that time, speakers said that a class of political parties had maintained a kind of leadership dominance in Rangamati and the surrounding areas through their long rule and influence. Where the rights and voices of ordinary people have been suppressed. The National Citizens Party is emerging as an alternative to the ruling system, whose goal is to ensure the respect, rights, and development of all people, regardless of hill tribe or Bengali.

At the meeting, Emon Syed said, “We are developing an alternative politics to free ourselves from the dictatorship, repression, and autocratic activities of the Awami League and its allies.” But our party is open to people of all classes and professions, except for the Awami League. “We call on you to come, join, and participate in building a new Bangladesh.”

He said, “If we are wrong, point it out.” “But let’s not spread any confusion beyond true and objective information.” Making a special appeal to journalists, he said, “You are the mirror of society. Your writing should be the language of the people’s minds, a mirror of the problems of society. Tell the truth without fear—we will be by your side.” “The National Citizens Party fully believes in journalists’ freedom of speech, professional safety, and freedom of the press.”

The meeting also discussed the Hill Peace Accord, the implementation of which raises various questions and differing opinions. The leaders said the main purpose of the agreement was to ensure peace and development, but the common people did not benefit from repeated political interference and biased decisions in the implementation process. The National Citizens Party wants to rethink the full review of this agreement and the transparency of its implementation.

At the end of the meeting, journalists expressed their opinions and called for more such meetings to be organized in the future. The National Citizens Party said that it will maintain close contact with journalists in the future and that every program of the organization will be shared with the media. He also told reporters, “You are the eyes and ears of society.” We want you to point out our mistakes, provide constructive criticism, and advocate for truth and justice.

The newly formed search committee leaders said during the introduction session that they will form a full-fledged convening committee in Rangamati within the next 20 days. They will seek leadership from the grassroots level and build a strong structure to shape the future of the organization, taking into account policies, ideals, and performance. At this time, the committee’s work strategy, future programs, and organizational outline were presented in detail to journalists.

In response to questions from journalists at the meeting, other leaders said that some political forces have taken advantage of the situation by creating unnecessary division and hostility between the two classes of people, the hill Bengalis. The National Citizens Party will stand against this politics of division. The leaders said, “We believe that in a harmonious Bangladesh, people of all ethnic groups will live, work, and lead with respect.”