Dhaka, July 15 -- National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has claimed that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is now a party of extortionists and criminals.

He also said that BNP has emerged as the new guardian of "Mujibism." The BNP is trying to uphold the Mujibist 1972 constitution, Nahid told a street rally in Patuakhali on Monday, as part of the NCP's "Build the Nation July March" program.

Addressing the gathered crowd, the NCP convener said: "A new breed of extortionists and guardians of Mujibism has arrived. They must be resisted and a struggle must be waged against them.

My dear comrades, we do not seek disunity or division. If they (BNP) stand against the people, if any force stands against the July uprising, then...