NCP prioritises justice, reforms over parliamentary polls

The group, however, is interested in the student council and local government elections

Despite growing clamour from several political parties, including the BNP, for swift parliamentary elections, the National Citizen Party (NCP) is not pushing for a vote at this time.

Party leaders believe the idea of coming to power as a new party is “unrealistic”.

They are demanding the trial of top Awami League leaders over the killings during the July Uprising, along with constitutional and institutional reforms, before any national election is held.

The student group that led the uprising is planning to hold a programme to highlight the need for Constituent Assembly elections for people. They are also keen on the student council and local government elections.

The NCP did not promise to establish an Islamic governance system like the religious parties or a socialist society like the leftists.

The party, which debuted on Feb 28 before the youths from the right, left and different religions and paths, said in its manifesto that it would establish a "pluralistic" society based on "justice and equality”.

Although the party has not yet formulated its constitution, it formed a committee in this respect on Apr 28.

The first programme of the NCP, which was launched two months ago, was an Iftar event. They held four meetings so far before and after the Eid-ul-Fitr.

In light of the decisions of these meetings, the path of opening associate organisations with diverse professionals, including workers, lawyers and expatriates, has gone a little ahead.

Apart from this, limited activities of the party's internal disciplinary committee, political wing and executive branch have also started.

The NCP had a plan to implement the programmes across the country through the formation of convening committees in several districts and Upazilas within this month.

At present, they are regularly holding processions in Dhaka demanding the ban of the Awami League and bringing various anomalies to the fore.

Asked about the party's plans, Joint Member Secretary Alauddin Mohammad said: "The NCP wants to use the potential created by the uprising to reform the state. A number of reform initiatives have now been undertaken.

"The common people have just begun to understand what it means to be a prime minister more than twice, what is the constitutional council and the upper house of parliament. We vote to continue the reform process."

Commenting that no reforms are possible if the door to reform is closed now for elections, he said: "Because if a party wins the election with a one-third majority in parliament, they will not agree to limit the infinite power they will have in the existing structure.

"Instead of a balance in power, they would enjoy the authority to the fullest. We saw that in 1991 and during the Awami League’s term in 2008. In that context, we are not against the polls and are averse to an election timeframe. We believe in a task-based approach."

Alauddin said, “Many people are saying that we want Yunus for five years or two years. We are not even with this statement. We want necessary reforms."

He said the political parties demanding elections are already established parties. Most of their “activities are election-related”.

The political base of the NCP is the “historical possibility of reforming the state after the mass uprising” like the 1971 Liberation War that became the “basis of Awami League's politics” after the incident, he added.

"The Awami League both used and misused that foundation later. The NCP’s formation and the possibility of state reform are intertwined widely. The NCP is naturally not in favour of holding the election without breaking the previous vicious political cycle amid the historical possibility that has been created."

The BNP, Jatiya Party, Islami Oikya Jote and other political parties and fronts have been repeatedly calling on the interim government to hold early elections after the reforms.

The top BNP leaders have always been saying that the reform is an ongoing process, which will be taken forward by an elected government.

Pointing to the BNP, Alauddin said: "Some pro-uprising forces agreed on most of the reforms. But a party wants ‘the rule of the game’ to remain the same.

"The previous rule of the game has been destroyed by the uprising like the one destroyed in 1991."

On Apr 30, the NCP met with the Gono Songhoti Andolon and the Islami Andolon Bangladesh to forge political unity in the ongoing state reform programme.

Alauddin said, "We want the student council election first. Because the students were at the forefront of the mass uprising. Second, local elections are needed to make the interim government effective. Thirdly, we want a Constituent Assembly election. It can be held simultaneously with the national election or separately.”