NCP to run with Jamaat, seven other parties: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Md Nahid Islam said on Sunday that the party has finalised an electoral agreement with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other parties and will contest the upcoming elections together.

“NCP has agreed to contest the elections together with Jamaat-e-Islami and these eight parties. The alliance will not only focus on crossing the electoral threshold but also uphold reform, justice and anti-hegemony and anti-corruption agendas, ensuring that the aspirations of the post-mass uprising period are not undermined,” Nahid told a press conference on Sunday evening.

Nahid said, “We have reached an important decision regarding the election. From the beginning, NCP intended to contest independently and had planned to field candidates in all 300 constituencies. Preparations and nationwide nomination calls were already underway. Later, we reached political agreements with two additional parties on reform issues.”

“However, the political landscape of Bangladesh changed dramatically following the public assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi. This incident revealed that hegemonic and aggressive forces are still active and conspiring to disrupt the electoral process,” he added.

“Given this altered scenario, we felt that a broader alliance was necessary to ensure a free, fair, and competitive election. In response, we have held discussions with Jamaat-e-Islami and its eight allied parties,” Nahid Islam said.

Confirming the agreement, he said, “NCP has agreed to contest the elections together with Jamaat-e-Islami and these eight parties.”

Nahid stated that the party would make a final announcement about its candidates the following day.

“Nominations will be submitted under this alliance. In constituencies where NCP does not field a candidate, we will campaign for candidates from allied parties,” he said.

He said that the decision was based on the majority view within the party and that dissenting members are free to act according to their judgement.

Earlier, at a press conference, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman confirmed that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and NCP are joining the eight-party electoral alliance led by Jamaat.