Thirty founding members of the National Citizen Party (NCP) have warned they will resign collectively if the party moves forward with a potential alliance involving Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the eight-party coalition.
In the letter addressed to the party convener, the members argued that Jamaat-e-Islami’s political legacy—particularly its anti-independence stance during the 1971 Liberation War and alleged involvement in genocide—runs counter to Bangladesh’s democratic ethos and the core principles of the NCP.
They further accused Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, of pursuing “divisive politics since the July uprising,” including infiltrating other political parties, carrying out character assassinations targeting NCP women leaders, and contributing to what they described as a growing threat of religion-based social fascism.
The signatories stressed that the NCP, born out of a mass uprising and positioning itself as a democratic force, has a responsibility to uphold human rights, religious tolerance, equal dignity, minority protection, and democratic values.
They also expressed concern over what they described as a leadership U-turn after previously announcing 125 candidates for independent elections, warning that entering an alliance “for the sake of a handful of seats would amount to a betrayal of the nation.”
The letter noted that reports of a possible alliance have already led some supporters to withdraw their backing. “If moderate voters and those hoping for a new kind of politics pull away, the party risks losing its moderate base in the long run, undermining NCP’s centrist political identity,” it said.
Concluding the letter, the members urged the leadership to prioritize principles over political expediency, stating that “strategies must be guided by principled positions, and principled positions must not be compromised for strategic gains,” while affirming their respect for party discipline.
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