The NCP's Alliance Dilemma: Leaders' Resignations and the Jamaat Tie
In a recent development, the National Convention Party (NCP) is facing a leadership crisis as a result of its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. Leaders who resigned from the NCP in protest against this alliance are steadfast in their decision, despite the party's attempts to reconcile them. The NCP's top leadership claims to be in talks with these leaders, but the former have dismissed these efforts as ineffective, stating they will only consider returning if the party severs ties with Jamaat.
Since the alliance announcement, at least 15 top and middle-ranking leaders have resigned, including former senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara and former joint convener Khaled Saifullah. Six others withdrew their candidacies for the upcoming national election. Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmeen and Joint Member Secretary Nahida Sarwar Niva, who did not officially step down, remain inactive in party activities following the NCP's ties with Jamaat.
NCP Spokesperson Asif Mahmud acknowledged the party's efforts to bring back the leaders, stating they are in talks with them. However, the leaders who left have dismissed these claims, alleging the leadership is using this narrative to mislead the people and party supporters before the polls. Former leaders revealed that despite calls from NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, and Asif Mahmud, no strong initiatives have been taken to address their core ideological concerns.
Former joint convener Khaled Saifullah denied any such engagements, stating he has not been in contact with anyone responsible for his return to the party. Dissident leaders described the process of joining the Jamaat-led alliance as undemocratic and premeditated, calling it a "bad deal" and opposing it from the beginning. According to one leader, the NCP's top brass announced a meeting on December 24 via the executive committee's WhatsApp group to discuss the alliance. Many who opposed the alliance were absent, leading to a majority opinion in favor of the alliance and its implementation.
The path to the alliance became easier for the top leadership following the death of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, according to another leader. Former NCP ICT cell head Farhad Alam Bhuiyan, who joined the NCP after the mass uprising, opposed the alliance and resigned first. He stated he did not want to be part of the "so-called politics" and made it clear that he will not return unless the NCP severs ties with Jamaat.
The NCP's internal meeting with the leaders who had resigned to discuss their reinstatement was abruptly canceled due to a leak. The party leadership, however, said the door remains open for the leaders to return. The NCP, founded in February last year by frontline activists of the July uprising, has seen a significant leadership split over various issues, including the recent alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.
