NCP Demands Impeachment, Arrest of President

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam speaks to reporters after paying tribute and offering prayers at the graves of those killed in the Pilkhana massacre at the Banani Military Graveyard on 25 February 2026.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has demanded the impeachment and immediate arrest of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, accusing him of failing to act during the July killings and breaching his constitutional oath.

Speaking to reporters after paying tribute at the graves of the victims of the 2009 Pilkhana massacre at Banani Military Graveyard on Tuesday, Nahid alleged that the president remained silent and inactive at a critical time.

“As the guardian of the state, he did not take effective steps to prevent the mass killings in July. He cannot avoid responsibility,” he said.

The NCP leader said his party would seek the president’s removal through impeachment in the first session of the newly formed parliament, claiming there was broad national consensus on the issue.

He also alleged that President Shahabuddin had previously been retained due to political disagreements and fears of a constitutional vacuum, but that the formation of a new parliament had changed the situation.

Nahid further criticised the president for remarks about former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, saying such statements were inconsistent with the neutrality expected of the head of state.

He additionally claimed that corruption allegations and criminal accusations against the president warranted legal action by the new government.

The NCP convener also alleged that party leaders and activists, including Sarjis Alam and Hannan Masud, had faced attacks in different areas. He claimed that despite being banned, the Awami League was still able to carry out activities, which he said suggested administrative backing.

Warning of public resistance if the situation continued, Nahid urged the government to uphold the rule of law, cautioning that failure to do so could lead to serious instability in the country.