Which way is NCP headed? Alliance with Jamaat exposes fault lines in new party politics

The party, formed by frontline leaders of the July Uprising with a pledge to forge a “new political settlement”, has now become the focal point of political debate.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by frontline leaders of the July Uprising, is facing the tremors of internal rifts after a decision taken to manage the challenge of contesting the parliamentary election, which will be held just 16 days before its first anniversary.

Over the past several days, a string of resignations has rocked the party. The latest, and most politically significant, development came when Mahfuj Alam announced that he would not be joining NCP at all.

Mahfuj, a leading organiser of the Students Against Discrimination Movement, had represented students on the interim cabinet led by Muhammad Yunus. On Sunday night, after placing himself in the ranks of former advisors since the election schedule was announced, he declared that he would not be part of “this NCP”.

That announcement followed, earlier in the day, NCP’s formal declaration that it was entering an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, a move that has sharply divided opinion within and outside the party. NCP had launched itself with much fanfare on Feb 28 this year.

Pointing directly to that decision, Mahfuj, who had been involved from the outset in forming both the Citizens' Committee and the NCP, made it clear that he would not be joining the 10-month old outfit.

Earlier, citing the same reason, Tasnim Jara, one of the party’s most recognisable faces, resigned from the NCP. On Saturday, her departure as senior joint member secretary sent shockwaves through the party.

A day later, on Sunday, joint convenor Tajnuva Jabin also announced her resignation, saying she would not stand for parliament. There are also persistent reports that several other central leaders have stepped down.

NCP’s decision to form an alliance — or reach an “understanding” — with Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other religion-based parties has touched off a fresh political debate ahead of the election.

Many who had hoped that the NCP would embody the political aspirations of youth in a post-uprising Bangladesh say they are disappointed by the unfolding developments. Some observers now warn that the party risks losing momentum before it has fully taken root.

Despite accusations that it was operating under “state patronage”, NCP had emerged with a pledge to bring about a “new political settlement”. It repeatedly claimed it would contest all 300 seats and form the government.

But its eventual decision to forge an electoral alliance with Jamaat and other religion-based parties has raised serious questions among political analysts about the party’s future and ideological direction. Public debate is also intensifying over the path NCP’s politics is now taking.

As many as 30 central leaders have formally objected to the process of forming an alliance with Jamaat. Earlier, several leaders resigned after saying the party was “no longer on the right track”.

Still, defending the party’s decision, NCP Convenor Nahid Islam formally announced the alliance on Sunday night, pledging that the party would continue to fight for reform and against corruption even after the election.

Some analysts warn that presenting a united front with Jamaat risks erasing the NCP’s ideological identity. Others argue it should be seen purely as an electoral arrangement.

‘NCP WILL LOSE SOMETHING BIG’

Political analyst Prof Asif Mohammad Shahan believes the alliance with Jamaat politically “brings no gain for NCP”.

“On the other hand,” he adds, “Jamaat-e-Islami will not find a better electoral partner than this. And NCP will lose something big.”

He warns that the alliance would drag the country back into ideological confrontation.

“In simple terms, what this means is that in this election there will be no policy discussions,” he told bdnews24.com. “There will be no debate about who has the better proposal for the country, whose economic policy is stronger, or who can serve better.

“Instead, alliances will try to identify and label each other; one side accusing the other of being anti-reform or subservient to ‘Indian hegemony’, while the other is forced into defence. And those unwilling to remain on the defensive will launch counter-attacks.”

That, he says, would create a deeply confrontational political environment.

“The entire election will revolve around this confrontation,” said the Dhaka University professor of development studies. “It will again shut down space for constructive discussion about how the country should be run, what economic policy should look like, or what our foreign policy should be.

“We are sliding back into the old ideological battles — battles that are rarely about economics. They always become social, cultural and identity-based conflicts.”

He also believes the alliance will damage the NCP’s popularity.

‘BOTH ENTERING AND EXITING ALLIANCE CAN BE POSITIVE’

Election analyst Abdul Alim believes NCP has already earned the label of a “major party”, after BNP and Jamaat. In that context, he says the party should contest elections under its own symbol, even if it enters alliances.

“In my view, NCP can now be called the third-largest party in Bangladesh,” he said. “This party is brand new, formed by leaders of the July Uprising.

“Even if they form alliances, they should contest under their own symbol. They fought hard for that symbol. If they don’t use it, they risk losing their identity.”

He also sees positive aspects in leaders leaving the party to contest as independents.

Many have resigned from NCP in protest against the Jamaat alliance, while some have announced plans to run independently.

“These leaders didn’t like the alliance, and many of them have been active in politics and preparing for elections for a long time,” Alim said. “So when they contest as independents, I see that as a healthy assertion of political agency.

“They are choosing to stand under their own identity. And especially when it comes to NCP’s women leaders, that is certainly commendable.”

According to Alim, politics always polarises into two camps ahead of elections, and this time is no different.

“Now we effectively have two major alliances,” he says. “One led by BNP, and the other by Jamaat. And this realignment has happened at the last minute.”

He notes that some parties have dissolved themselves and merged into BNP, something rarely seen before.

“Small parties have merged into larger ones purely to win elections,” he said. “They failed to present their ideology, symbols or party identity to the public. That’s why they made this choice.”

In his words, Bangladesh’s elections have historically followed a two-alliance pattern.

“This isn’t new,” he says. “But what is new is seeing parties suddenly dissolve or jump alliances. That’s something we’re witnessing this time.”

‘IDEOLOGICAL TENSIONS WITH PARTY ARE NORMAL’

Political analyst Kazi Mohammad Mahbobor Rahman believes ideological debates within a party are natural.

“Everyone in a party doesn’t think the same way — that’s normal,” he told bdnews24.com. “Some believe the alliance with Jamaat is necessary, others don’t. Ideological struggles are bound to exist.”

He argues that entering an alliance does not automatically erase a party’s ideology.

“A party doesn’t lose its character by joining a larger alliance, as long as it doesn’t change ideologically,” said the Dhaka University professor of political science.

“Parties join alliances all the time. The real question is political cost and benefit. Look at past alliances — did they really change the core ideology of the parties involved?”