Last Updated on December 28, 2025 11:30 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) has formally joined a Jamaat-e-Islami–led electoral alliance, expanding the coalition to 10 parties ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national election, triggering fresh political debate and internal dissent within the NCP.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman announced the development at an emergency press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday, saying seat-sharing arrangements among the alliance partners had been “largely finalised” through negotiations. The coalition has also been joined by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed.
Calling the move timely, Shafiqur said the alliance was formed during “a critical phase in the country’s national life”. “The seat-sharing agreement is nearly finalised, and the remaining nominations will soon be submitted,” he said, adding that although several other parties had shown interest in joining, further expansion was not possible at this stage.
The decision has exposed deep divisions within the NCP, which emerged from the July student-led uprising and had earlier pledged to contest all 300 parliamentary seats independently. On Sunday, at least 30 NCP leaders submitted a letter of protest to party convener Nahid Islam, opposing any alliance with Jamaat. Hours later, more than 80 party leaders sent a counter-letter backing whatever electoral arrangement the leadership may decide.
The alliance announcement followed the resignation of senior NCP leaders. Tasnim Jara, a senior joint member secretary, earlier quit the party and announced she would contest the election as an independent candidate. On Sunday, Joint Convener Tajnuva Jabeen resigned from the party and withdrew from the election, citing ideological differences over cooperation with Jamaat.
Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, the LDP, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Islami Andolan Bangladesh were present at the press conference. With the addition of NCP and LDP, the Jamaat-led bloc now comprises 10 political parties contesting the upcoming national election.