The National Citizen Party (NCP) formally launched its campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election on Thursday, with party leaders calling on voters to support the 10-party electoral alliance.
The campaign began with visits to the graves of national leaders Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Sharif Osman bin Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Moncho, who was killed last December.
NCP Convener Nahid Islam inaugurated the campaign and urged voters across the country to ensure the victory of the 10-party alliance.
Later in the day, the party organized a procession titled “March for Justice,” which started around 12:45 p.m. from near the mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul Islam. The march passed through Shahbagh and Ramna Park before ending in front of the National Press Club.
The procession was led by Nahid Islam and included NCP Chief Coordinator and Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwary, Central Election Management Committee Secretary Monira Sharmin, Dhaka-9 candidate Javed Rasin, Dhaka-20 candidate Nabila Tasnid, and other senior leaders. Leaders and activists from Jamaat-e-Islami, which leads the 10-party alliance, were also present.
Earlier, around 11:30 a.m., Nahid and other NCP leaders visited the mausoleums near Doyel Chattar at Dhaka University. Speaking to journalists, Nahid said the campaign began by honoring figures who shaped Bangladesh’s political and democratic foundations.
He described Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq as the architect of Bangladesh who fought against the zamindari system, and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy as a founder of democracy in the country. Drawing a parallel with the present, Nahid said the NCP is moving toward a new political settlement by resisting what he described as a “fascist system.”
Referring to Sharif Osman Hadi, Nahid said the campaign represents an “anti-hegemonic journey” aimed at justice and reform. He called on voters to support a “yes” vote in the referendum and continue the reform process.
“Ensuring justice for the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi is one of our key election commitments,” Nahid said. He added that legal proceedings in the case should be completed before the election.
Nahid also highlighted Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwary’s campaign against what he described as “new mafias and new zamindars” in the constituency. He urged voters to elect NCP’s 30 candidates nationwide using the party’s “Shapla Koli” symbol.
In his speech, Nahid accused the Election Commission of failing to act neutrally and alleged that it was favoring a particular political party. He called on the commission to ensure a level playing field.
Slogans during the rally included calls for justice, freedom, and support for the 10-party alliance. The march concluded around 1:30 p.m. at the National Press Club, where Nasiruddin demanded swift justice for Osman Hadi’s killing and urged regional cooperation to prevent suspects from evading accountability.
In his closing remarks, Nahid said the NCP has officially entered the election race after 16 years of what he described as restricted voting rights. He called on voters to elect NCP and alliance-backed candidates in the Feb. 12 election.
“We will win the election, go to parliament, and implement the reform promises we made to the people,” he said.
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