BSS) — National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Md Nahid Islam today said that unless the circulation of black money in elections is checked, efforts to curb corruption after the polls are unlikely to be succeeded.

“We know that corruption is driven by a nexus of corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, and mafia businessmen who channel black money behind the scenes. This nexus is particularly active during elections, and if it is not stopped, post-election corruption cannot be prevented,” he said.”

Nahid’s comments came as he joined a session of the “Fourth Bangladesh Economic Conference 2025: Future Economic Roadmap and Political Commitment” organized by daily Bonik Barta at a hotel in the capital.

The NCP chief said regardless of public commitments or assurances, functional actions were required to dismantle the corrupt nexus, composed of whatever elements of society, to establish good governance and meaningful state reform.

“Corruption is a nexus of officials, politicians, and mafia businessmen. Addressing past mafia looting and recovering laundered funds will be central to our movement,” he said.

Nahid said without changing social values, reforms would not be sustainable, and societal stability could not be achieved and warned that unchecked social fascism could deter foreign investment and destabilize the country.

Nahid said future economic reforms in Bangladesh are possible only by analyzing the pre-July Uprising economic structure.

He said past fascist regimes adopted “exploitative policies” for embezzlement, bank looting, money laundering, and the rise of oligarchic mafia classes, “which fueled social inequality”.

This historical context, he said, made the movement’s slogan “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement” highly popular.

He said the quota reform movement went beyond job-related demands and the “deliberate naming” of the movement aimed to connect with broader society and establish a moral foundation.

Other issues, such as labour wages, commodity prices, and employment, were also linked to youth activism, he said, adding the July movement’s core strength came from students’ frustration over social inequities and political repression, even they acquired higher education.

To contextualize the uprising, Nahid referenced three key student movements over the past decade: the VAT protest in private universities, the 2018 quota reform movement, and the Safe Road movement.

He said students experienced economic pressures directly in these movements but could not achieve political outcomes in those three movements.

“The 2024 movement, however, evolved into a political struggle due to government inaction and the students’ lack of trust in authorities,” Nahid said.

Drawing on China’s model, Nahid emphasized the need for reform, stability, and development.

A peaceful election, he said, would signal political stability, while long-term economic reconstruction should focus on education reform, skills-based employment, public health, environment, agricultural modernization, digital economy, development of small and medium enterprises, and engagement of expatriate youth.

He highlighted the economic potential of the southern region and the Bay of Bengal, promising to attract foreign investment while strengthening domestic businesses.

Empowering local governments and decentralization, he said, would ensure sustainable democracy, protect sovereignty, and maintain economic independence.

Nahid reiterated that the mass uprising’s core aspiration was ending inequality.

“Economic reform, breaking the corruption-mafia nexus, and addressing youth and middle-class crises are essential for fulfilling the uprising’s goals. By establishing a just, equitable, and stable economy, the hopes of the people can be realized,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Chief coordinator of Ganosanghati Andolon Junaid Saki and National Consensus Commission member and Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar also addressed the event, moderated by Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud.