NCP Vows No Compromise for Power or Seats
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam today said the party will not go for any compromise or seat-sharing arrangement with any political party in pursuit of power in the forthcoming national parliamentary election. “We are trying to contest in all 300 seats on our own. We will not negotiate with anyone for power or seats. Even if we do not win a single seat, we will remain steadfast in our ideals, principles and objectives,” Nahid told a press conference at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Convention Centre in the capital’s Shahbagh this morning.
The press conference was convened by the NCP’s Central Election Steering Committee following the completion of nomination form sales held between November 6 and 20. After the briefing, the party commenced a views-exchange programme with 1,484 nomination seekers who collected forms for the upcoming parliamentary election. Nahid alleged that various rumours and fabricated reports were being circulated about the party to mislead people.
“There is an attempt to push the NCP in a certain direction. But we have made it clear that our politics is for the people, and we want to reach them independently,” he said. He added that the party remains open for discussion only if another political party agrees with the NCP’s manifesto, principles, and policy positions. “Any political understanding, if it happens, must be based on ideology, not on power or positions,” he said. Referring to some misleading information in media, Nahid said, “After the July mass uprisings, parties with different views have been holding discussions, attending events, and engaging in informal dialogues. This is part of democratic culture. Such engagements should not be misrepresented.”
Nahid Islam also expressed concern over emerging political divide over the July Charter, saying some parties were now plotting a “negotiated, orchestrated election” aimed at sharing power. “Such an election would damage Bangladesh’s democracy and undermine the new political aspirations born out of the mass uprising. The NCP will never support such arrangements. We will resist them,” he said. He further said that the party does not yet see a level playing field for the upcoming national polls. Bangladesh’s electoral culture, he said, has long suffered from administrative capture, muscle power, and the use of illicit money.
“In the fascist era, people couldn’t even go to vote centers. To ensure a free and fair election, the Election Commission, the government, and the administration must take strong, impartial positions, which we are not visible,” he said. He urged both the government and anti-authoritarian political forces to help ensure that the administration can function neutrally during the election period. The NCP has begun interviewing its nomination aspirants today and will continue the process through Monday, from 9am to 9pm each day.
“We want to hear the dreams, competencies, and motivations of our nomination seekers. Through a transparent process, we hope to finalise 300 candidates,” Nahid said, adding that the party’s central parliamentary board would make the final decision after preliminary screening. NCP’s Chief Coordinator and head of the Election Steering Committee Nasiruddin Patwary said the party has so far distributed 1,484 nomination forms—761 offline and 723 online—averaging five aspirants per seat. Ten interview boards have been formed based on ten administrative divisions.
NCP Chief Organizer (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Joint Convener Tasnim Jara, Senior NCP leaders including Mujahidul Islam, Atik Mujahid, Abdullah Al Amin, and Md. Ataullah were also present at the press conference.
