[🇧🇩] A New Political Party: National Citizen Party

[Saif]

NCP’s Nusrat Tabassum’s nomination paper declared valid

The nomination paper of Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th parliament has been declared valid by the returning officer.

en.prothomalo.com

NCP’s Nusrat Tabassum’s nomination paper declared valid

Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 02 May 2026, 16: 14

Nusrat Tabassum

The nomination paper of Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th parliament has been declared valid by the returning officer.

Returning Officer Md Moin Uddin Khan informed journalists of this after scrutiny of nomination papers at the Election Commission building in Dhaka today, Saturday.

The deadline for submitting nomination papers was until 4:00 pm on 21 April. Nusrat went to submit her nomination shortly after the stipulated time that day, but the returning officer did not accept it then.

Later, Nusrat sought legal remedy, and the court directed the Election Commission to accept her nomination paper and take further action in accordance with the law. Accordingly, her nomination was accepted and reviewed.

Earlier, the nomination paper of NCP candidate Monira Sharmin was rejected during scrutiny. As she had not completed three years since leaving her job at the state-owned Krishi Bank, the returning officer declared her nomination invalid under the law.

On Thursday evening, the Election Commission published a gazette declaring 49 candidates elected to the reserved women’s seats of the 13th parliament.

Among them are 36 from BNP, 12 from the 11-party electoral alliance including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), and 1 independent candidate.

Arrangements will now be made for the oath-taking of the members of parliament. Due to legal complications, the candidacy for one remaining seat has not yet been finalised.​

 

[Saif]

49 reserved women’s seats MPs sworn in, NCP nominee yet to take oath

The newly elected women Members of Parliament (MPs) took oath on Sunday to represent their respective parties from the reserved seats. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, administered the oath at 9:07pm at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by...

en.prothomalo.com

49 reserved women’s seats MPs sworn in, NCP nominee yet to take oath

UNB
Dhaka
Published: 03 May 2026, 22: 58

49 reserved women’s seats MPs sworn in, NCP nominee yet to take oath UNB

The newly elected women Members of Parliament (MPs) took oath on Sunday to represent their respective parties from the reserved seats.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, administered the oath at 9:07pm at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Parliament Secretariat Secretary Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, along with cabinet members and senior leaders of the ruling BNP, opposition Jamaat, and NCP, were present on the occasion.

Earlier on April 30, the Election Commission published a gazette declaring 49 lawmakers elected unopposed to the reserved women’s seats in the 13th parliament.

The 36 BNP alliance MPs are Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, Rasheda Begum Hira, Rehana Akter Ranu, Newaz Halima Arly, Farida Yasmin, Bilkis Islam, Shakila Farzana, Helen Jerin Khan, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Zeeba Amina Khan, Mahmuda Habiba, Sabira Sultana, Sunsila Jabrin, Sanjida Islam (Tulee), Sultana Ahmed, Fahmida Haque, Anna Minz, Subarna Shikdar, Shamim Ara Begum Swapna, Shammi Akter, Ferdousi Ahmed, Bithika Binte Hossain, Suraiya Jerin, Mansura Akter, Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, Momtaz Alo, Fahima Nasrin, Arifa Sultana, Sanjida Yasmin, Nadia Pathan Papon, Shawkat Ara Akter, Madhabi Marma, Selina Sultana and Rezeka Sultana.

The 12 Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance newly elected lawmakers include Nurunnisa Siddika, Marzia Begum, Sabikun Nahar, Nazmun Nahar, Mahfuza Hannan, Sajeda Samad, Shamsunnahar Begum, Marzdia Momtaz, Rokeya Begum (mother of July martyr Jabir Ibrahim), Mahmuda Alam Mitu (NCP), Tasmia Pradhan (Jagpa) and Mahbuba Hakim (Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish).

The independent MP for the lone reserved seat is Sultana Jasmin.

There are 50 reserved seats for women in the Parliament. For the last remaining seat, which is supposed to go to the National Citizen Party, the Election Commission initially rejected the nominations of two NCP aspirants - Monira Sharmin''s candidacy was deemed ineligible, while Nusrat Tabassum submitted her paperwork late.

Although the nomination of Nusrat was later declared valid, it came too late for her to be sworn in today alongside the others. Sharmin meanwhile herself has an appeal pending over the matter of her nomination in the High Court.​

 

[Saif]

Can NCP progress while remaining aligned with Jamaat?

Party leaders argue that the NCP has not yet developed the organisational strength necessary to operate independently within just one year.

en.prothomalo.com

Can NCP progress while remaining aligned with Jamaat?

Asif Howladar
Dhaka
Published: 09 May 2026, 14: 00

The National Citizen Party won six seats in the 13th parliamentary elections, contesting under the Shapla Kali symbol. Taken from NCP's Facebook page

The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed through the July mass uprising, had raised hopes among many. However, ahead of the election, the party faced an internal crisis over forming an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.

Several leaders also left the party. Questions later emerged during NCP meetings about how long the alliance with Jamaat would continue after the election. So far, however, indications suggest that the NCP intends to continue alongside Jamaat.

Party leaders argue that the NCP has not yet developed the organisational strength necessary to operate independently within just one year. That, in turn, has raised another question: can the NCP establish a distinct political identity in this way?

Discussions with NCP leaders revealed that the party wants to build a broader movement to implement the referendum mandate. However, leaders believe the party currently lacks the organisational capacity to carry out such a movement alone.

For that reason, the NCP wants to remain within the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, intensify the movement, and increase pressure on the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossen spoke at an 11-party rally in Dhaka on 4 April demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict.Taken from NCP's Facebook page

NCP senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adeeb told Prothom Alo, “Implementing the referendum mandate and the July Charter through party programmes and through the 11-party alliance by building a mass movement is now the NCP’s priority. The full implementation of the July Charter is essential to prevent the resurgence of a fascist system.”

Following the removal of the Awami League government during the July mass uprising, political parties held discussions with the interim government that later produced the July National Charter aimed at reforming the state structure.

The 11-party alliance alleges that the BNP, after assuming power, has moved away from implementing that charter. As a result, the alliance wants to continue pressuring the BNP.

In addition, the NCP plans to contest the upcoming local government elections as part of the alliance. The party’s policymakers believe local government elections provide an effective opportunity to expand the organisation at the grassroots level.

They think the party can strengthen its organisational foundation if it succeeds in electing a significant number of candidates to union councils, upazila councils, municipalities, and city corporations across the country.

Three senior NCP leaders, including two members of parliament, spoke about this strategy on condition of anonymity. They said the NCP’s principal political commitment is reforming the state system to eliminate fascism.

The NCP wants to remain within the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, intensify the movement, and increase pressure on the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

However, without expanding the party organisation, the NCP cannot pursue that objective in the long term. Yet the party’s organisational strength has still not reached the expected level. As a result, the NCP has, in many ways, become compelled to engage in alliance politics.

Before the 13th National Parliamentary Election, a section of the NCP objected to forming an alliance with Jamaat. However, a larger section supported the alliance. Subsequently, at least 17 central leaders resigned from the party, while several others became inactive in politics.

Despite the internal backlash, NCP policymakers remained firm on contesting the election as part of the Jamaat-led alliance. A number of 30 NCP candidates contested the election as nominees of the 11-party alliance.

Among them, party convener Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossen, and four others won seats and now serve in parliament.

Implementing the referendum mandate and the July Charter through party programmes and through the 11-party alliance by building a mass movement is now the NCP’s priority. The full implementation of the July Charter is essential to prevent the resurgence of a fascist system.

Will the party retain its distinct identity?
Reports suggest that a section of the NCP’s current leadership also opposes remaining allied with Jamaat. However, that faction appears to hold limited influence within the party.

Many people outside the party also regularly criticise the NCP for remaining in the alliance. Critics question whether the NCP can establish itself as an independent political force while staying aligned with Jamaat.

Some also frequently criticise the party on social media by highlighting that a section of NCP leaders was once involved with the politics of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Abdul Kader, who served as a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement during the July mass uprising and gained prominence after announcing the nine-point demands, is among the strongest critics of the NCP’s alliance with Jamaat.

In a Facebook post on 22 April, he wrote, “If the NCP becomes a party outwardly but a ‘proxy wing’ internally, then what future does the NCP have as a political party?”

Before the elections, the leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP), including its convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossen, attended rallies in various parts of the country. Taken from NCP's Facebook page

However, according to a senior NCP leader, the ideologies of the NCP and Jamaat differ significantly.

He said the party has had to engage in alliance politics because it has not yet developed sufficient organisational capacity. He also noted that, at present, the Jamaat-led alliance remains the most active political party opposing the BNP.

NCP leaders despite remaining in the alliance, sought to explain that the party’s fundamental principles differ from those of Jamaat. On 9 April, they presented their position in parliament on a particular issue.

On that day, parliament introduced a bill to convert the Jatiyo Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) Ordinance into law while retaining the names of the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Nezam-e-Islam Party as collaborators of the Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War.

Although Jamaat objected to the bill, the NCP stated that it had no objection to the proposed legislation.

In addition, the NCP is trying to bring back those leaders and activists who resigned from the party over the alliance with Jamaat.

Regarding the matter, Ariful Islam Adeeb, a member of the NCP’s highest policymaking body, the political council, said that party leaders are maintaining communication and holding discussions with those who resigned in an effort to persuade them to return.

However, there has so far been no indication that any former member is preparing to rejoin the party.​

 

[Saif]

NCP announces 100 candidates for local govt polls

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday announced its first batch of 100 candidates for the upcoming local government elections, including upazila and municipal polls across the country. NCP Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam unveiled the names at a press conference held at the party

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

NCP announces 100 candidates for local govt polls

FE REPORT

Published :
May 11, 2026 13:22
Updated :
May 11, 2026 13:22

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday announced its first batch of 100 candidates for the upcoming local government elections, including upazila and municipal polls across the country.

NCP Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam unveiled the names at a press conference held at the party's temporary office in Banglamotor.

He said more than 1,000 applications had been submitted to the party for local government positions, from which the initial 100 candidates were selected.

"We will announce another 100 candidates in the second phase on May 20. This nomination process will continue," he said.

Sarjis also said candidates would be chosen not only from within the party but also from other political parties, provided they meet certain criteria.

According to him, applicants must be hardworking, publicly acceptable, free from any record of oppression, and have no direct involvement with the previous fascist government or related crimes.

"We will conduct a thorough vetting process, and if anyone from another political party wishes to join, we will make every effort to give them that opportunity," he added. He further said the candidate selection process has been designed to ensure broad social representation, allowing students, workers, women and members of the Hindu community to contest under the NCP banner.​

 

[Saif]

If it’s violence they want, nobody can outdo us, we proved that during July Uprising: Asif Mahmud

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has reacted sharply to the attack on the party’s Chief Coordinator, Nasiruddin Patwary, in Jhenaidah. Demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack on Nasiruddin by tonight, Friday, he declared, “If they are not...

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If it’s violence they want, nobody can outdo us, we proved that during July Uprising: Asif Mahmud
Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who served as an adviser to the post-uprising interim government, further accused the BNP government of failure in state governance.

Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 22 May 2026, 20: 57

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain with other leaders of the party pose for a photograph after 229 leaders and activists from the two Dhaka city units of United People’s Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh)—a political platform formed by former leaders of the Islami Chhatra Shibir—officially joined the NCP at the National Press Club, Dhaka on 22 May 2026 Prothom Alo.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has reacted sharply to the attack on the party’s Chief Coordinator, Nasiruddin Patwary, in Jhenaidah.

Demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack on Nasiruddin by tonight, Friday, he declared, “If they are not arrested, and if you choose the path of violence, we too will be forced to opt for violence.”

Issuing a stark warning to the ruling BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) government, former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud said, “Despite the opposition repeatedly demonstrating goodwill, the ruling party is actively seeking violence. Though our blood is hot and we are young, we understand exactly what needs to be done and when to focus on nation-building. However, if the ruling party desires violence and wishes to adopt it as their sole political weapon, we proved during the 2024 mass uprising that nobody can outdo us in that regard.”


Asif Mahmud made these remarks as a special guest at an event held in the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the National Press Club in the capital on Friday afternoon.

During the function, 229 leaders and activists from the two Dhaka city units of United People’s Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh)—a political platform formed by former leaders of the Islami Chhatra Shibir—officially joined the NCP.

In his concluding remarks, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud vehemently protested against the attack on Nasiruddin Patwary.

“The government is failing to govern the state, yet they are adopting a strategy of tackling opponents through suppression and persecution. This does not augur well for Bangladesh,” he stated.

Asif Mahmud, a leader of the NCP, which is a component of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, noted that since the national election, the opposition has consistently urged the government to implement the verdict of the referendum and fulfil the aspirations born out of the July mass uprising.

Reaffirming that the opposition has invited the government to move forward together to build a new Bangladesh, he added, “Despite the opposition repeatedly demonstrating this goodwill, the ruling party is actively seeking violence.”

Warning the government against confrontation, Asif Mahmud said, “If you wish to inflict this upon us, this battle will not be fought against any single political party, specific ideology, or doctrine; this battle will be waged against an entire generation. Sheikh Hasina made the mistake of fighting this generation. I hope Tarique Rahman will not repeat that mistake.”

“Those who attacked our comrades have all been identified via video footage and photographs. They must all be arrested by tonight. If they are not arrested, and if you choose the path of violence, we too will be forced to opt for violence,” he added.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who served as an adviser to the post-uprising interim government, further accused the BNP government of failure in state governance.

“Since the election, murders, rapes, and citizens’ security crises have escalated drastically. Today, our mothers and sisters are afraid to step out of their homes,” he remarked.

Remarking that the Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, occasionally behaves as though he is the Prime Minister or the President, Asif Mahmud observed, “The Home Minister is not discharging his duties properly, or there appears to be a distinct reluctance on his part to do so. If the country continues to run in this manner, the people of Bangladesh will be forced to take to the streets in the coming days against this government and the failing state structure.”

‘If they attempt to suppress, their downfall will be even more severe’

The other special guest at the event, Sarjis Alam, the NCP’s Chief Organiser for the Northern Region, also expressed furious resentment over the attack on Nasiruddin Patwary.

He stated that Nasiruddin Patwary had announced he would hold a meeting to exchange views with comrades in Jhenaidah after the Jumma prayers. It was then that leaders and activists of the (Jatiyatabadi) Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal launched a terrorist-style assault on him. Former conveners of the district unit Chhatra Dal, as well as the Chhatra Dal conveners of the relevant educational institution there, were directly involved. A few days ago, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists entered the Shahbagh police station and assaulted our journalist brothers. To date, no justice has been delivered for that attack.

Referring to the brutal murder of an eight-year-old child in Dhaka’s Pallabi, NCP leader Sarjis noted, “Following the rape and brutal murder of our sister, we saw yesterday that the Prime Minister visited the family to express his condolences. We extend our thanks. However, if this condolence is merely a game to hush up a single day’s issue, and if no direction for justice is found over the next six months, the people of future Bangladesh will no longer accept this condolence card.”

Addressing the BNP and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Sarjis Alam warned, “Your Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal leaders and activists were our comrades in the uprising. We wish to show them respect and honour. However, if they attempt to suppress political movements through terrorist means, mimicking the erstwhile ways of the (Bangladesh) Chhatra League and Jubo League, their downfall will be even more severe, Insha’Allah.”

“We state unequivocally that in the Bangladesh of the future, the use of any political party’s affiliate organisation or law enforcement agencies as a thuggish force to suppress and persecute other political opinions and beliefs will no longer be tolerated,” he added.

The event was presided over by NCP Joint Convener Ali Ahsan Zonaed, and moderated by NCP Joint Member Secretary Shahrin Sultana. Senior Joint Convener of the NCP, Ariful Islam Adeeb, also spoke as a special guest.​