Dhaka, Dec 29 (NationPress) The National Citizen Party (NCP) has officially declared its intention to ally with a Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition in advance of the Bangladesh general elections, inciting significant internal discord. Party convenor Nahid Islam was quick to clarify that this collaboration is strictly electoral and not rooted in any shared ideology.

Initially, the NCP planned to independently participate in the forthcoming elections, with arrangements made to nominate candidates across all 300 parliamentary constituencies.

However, the political landscape in Bangladesh shifted dramatically due to the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, prompting the party to reevaluate its approach.

In the current political climate, Islam emphasized, it would be unfeasible for the NCP to proceed alone. Therefore, the decision was made to form a coalition with eight other like-minded parties. He stated, “This is not an ideological alliance; it is an electoral understanding,” as reported by the prominent Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star.

Previously, NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb echoed this sentiment to The Daily Star, making it clear that the alliance was forged based on mutual political goals rather than ideological similarities.

“Our political alignment focuses on executing reform proposals within the democratic alliance, which will enhance the influence of eight to ten parties in realizing the political agreement stemming from the July uprising,” he noted.

Despite these assurances, the decision has ignited substantial unrest within the party.

A group of approximately 30 senior NCP leaders has released a letter denouncing the collaboration with the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami, with two high-ranking leaders stepping down in protest.

Islam reaffirmed that the party's initial objective was to contest all 300 seats independently, but the assassination of Osman Hadi marked a pivotal moment.

“Given the altered context, we recognize that broader unity is crucial for ensuring a fair and competitive election. With this urgency, we engaged in discussions with Jamaat-e-Islami and its coalition,” he added.

The NCP originated from the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) movement, which led last year's tumultuous July protests.

The group subsequently evolved into a political party under the interim leadership of Muhammad Yunus.

Opponents of the Jamaat alliance contend that this decision contradicts the NCP's stated ideology and its position on the July Uprising and democratic values.

A memo circulated amongst party members pointed to Jamaat-e-Islami's contentious political history, including its stance against Bangladesh's independence and alleged involvement in atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War, branding these perspectives as incompatible with the NCP's core principles.

Simultaneously, Mahfuz Alam, a prominent figure linked to the 2024 violent uprising, has publicly distanced himself from NCP leaders following the decision to ally with Jamaat-e-Islami.

In a Facebook post, Alam expressed his inability to remain affiliated with the NCP, as the internal rift expands, evidenced by a memorandum signed by 30 senior leaders opposing the alliance and the resignation of two senior members.

Bangladesh is set to hold elections in February next year.