NCP joined Jamaat-led alliance for broader unity: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) joined an alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and other like-minded parties, citing the need for a broader unity to protect the generation that actively participated in the July uprising, NCP Convener Nahid Islam said on Sunday.

Nahid made the announcement at an urgent press conference held at NCP’s temporary office in the city's Banglamotor in the evening.

“We initially intended to contest the election independently and had prepared to field candidates in all 300 constituencies. However, incidents such as the killing of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Moncho, prompted us to reconsider and take a new decision,” Nahid said.

Referring to ongoing conspiracies to disrupt the February elections, he said the main aim of the defeated forces is to destroy the July generation. “To preserve the dreams of the July generation, NCP has joined hands with Jamaat”.

Nahid emphasised that the alliance seeks broader unity to reform the country, ensure justice for the July mass killings, and curb hegemony and corruption. “From that perspective, we have joined this alliance to ensure a competitive election.”

The decision to ally with Jamaat has sparked mixed reactions within NCP. Central leaders such as Tasnim Jara and Tajnuva Jabeen resigned, while leaders including Samantha Sharmin and Monira Sharmin openly opposed the move.

“We have taken the decision based on the majority opinion. The party will continue to operate according to its rules,” Nahid said.

When asked how NCP’s ideology aligns with Jamaat, he replied, “For now, the alliance is purely for electoral purposes. Post-election, we will decide whether to move forward together. The primary focus of the current alliance is the 13th national election and referendum.”

Regarding seat-sharing, Nahid said, “No final decision has been made yet. We will announce the details at a press conference on Monday.”

Earlier in the day, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, at an urgent press briefing with like-minded parties, announced NCP’s formal entry into the alliance. Besides NCP, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has also joined the coalition.

After the July uprising, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JaGaPa) began discussions to field single candidates in all constituencies through seat-sharing arrangements.

The Bangladesh Development Party later joined the process, forming an eight-party alliance that carried out prolonged joint movements on various demands.

With the fresh inclusion of NCP and LDP in the electoral understanding, the number of parties in the Jamaat-led alliance has now risen to ten.