30 Central Leaders Oppose Alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami

The National Citizen Party (NCP), a political entity born from the student-led July Uprising, is facing significant internal friction.

On Saturday, 30 central leaders formally submitted a memorandum to Party Convenor Nahid Islam, expressing their strong opposition to any potential alliance or seat-sharing agreement with the eight-party coalition that includes Jamaat-e-Islami.

According to NCP Organiser Rafiqul Islam Aini, the dissenting leaders believe that partnering with Jamaat-e-Islami contradicts the foundational values of their party. The memorandum highlighted several critical concerns. The leaders cited Jamaat-e-Islami’s anti-independence stance during the 1971 Liberation War. The document pointed to the party’s historical cooperation in wartime atrocities.

The dissenters argued that Jamaat’s political history is "fundamentally at odds" with the democratic spirit of modern Bangladesh and the principles established during the recent uprising.

The NCP had recently been in discussions regarding a broader coalition to consolidate political strength ahead of the elections. However, this move has triggered a backlash from within its own ranks, specifically from members who identify as "student leaders of the July Uprising."

These members fear that an alliance with a party linked to the 1971 war crimes would undermine their credibility and the "new political culture" they promised to build.