Dhaka, Jan 12 (NationPress) The National Citizen Party (NCP) of Bangladesh is facing significant challenges as internal conflicts arise due to its partnership with the radical Islamist group Jamaat-e-Islami. Leaders who have departed from the party are standing firm in their choices, dismissing attempts by the NCP leadership to entice them back.Local reports indicate that the party's top officials are claiming to engage with these leaders, who argue that such efforts are futile and will only reconsider their return if the NCP dissolves its alliance with Jamaat.

As of Sunday, approximately 15 prominent and mid-level leaders, including former senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara and former joint convener Khaled Saifullah, have resigned, while six others have withdrawn their candidacies for the upcoming elections.

Moreover, even though NCP Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmeen and Joint Member Secretary Nahida Sarwar Niva remain officially affiliated with the party, they have become inactive since the NCP's alignment with Jamaat.

In a conversation with Bangladesh's prominent newspaper, The Daily Star, NCP Spokesperson Asif Mahmud stated, "We are actively working to bring back our leaders and are in discussions with them," emphasizing that their exits stem from more than just disappointment, hinting at deeper issues.

However, the departing leaders have labeled these assertions as "false and fabricated," accusing the NCP leadership of manipulating the narrative to mislead the public and party supporters ahead of the elections.

In the meantime, at least five former leaders have indicated that despite attempts by NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, and Asif Mahmud to reach out, their fundamental ideological concerns remain unaddressed.

Former NCP joint convener Khaled Saifullah outrightly rejected claims of any outreach, asserting to The Daily Star, "I have not been contacted by anyone regarding my return to the party."

Several dissenting leaders have described the NCP's decision to ally with Jamaat as "undemocratic and premeditated." One leader, wishing to remain anonymous, referred to the alliance as a "bad deal," asserting their opposition from the outset.

Regarding the pressure to rejoin, former NCP ICT cell head Farhad Alam Bhuiyan remarked, "The party's senior leaders have reached out to me, urging my return. However, I have made it clear that I will not return unless the NCP severs ties with Jamaat."

With elections scheduled for February 12, Bangladesh is witnessing rising political tension, as discontent within the NCP grows over its partnership with Jamaat in the forthcoming polls.