Bangladesh’s student-led political group, the National Citizen Party, has entered into an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of February’s parliamentary election. This move has exposed deep internal divisions within the fledgling party.
The National Citizen Party emerged from the protest movement that led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Since last year’s uprising, the party has portrayed itself as a centrist and reform-oriented force. It has promised to break what it describes as a culture of nepotism and decades of two-party dominance. As the election approaches, however, the NCP has struggled to convert its street support into sustained voter backing.
NCP chief Nahid Islam said on Sunday that the party chose to ally to promote broader political unity. He added that the final list of candidates would be announced on Monday. Several senior party figures have defended the decision, calling it a practical response to a fragmented political environment.
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Bangladesh's newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) today formally announced its decision to join the Jamaat-e-Islami led coalition for the upcoming Bangladesh general elections
NCP's decision to join the right wing Islamic party Jamat-e-Islami led coalition has… pic.twitter.com/INN6BfCKSD
— Indrajit Kundu | ইন্দ্রজিৎ (@iindrojit) December 28, 2025The alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, however, has triggered resignations and criticism from within the party. Tasnim Jara, a medical doctor who left a career in Britain to join the NCP and later became one of its prominent leaders, resigned on Saturday. She said she would contest the election as an independent candidate. Other members have also stepped down in protest.
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Critics argue that the partnership contradicts the NCP’s founding principles. A university student who supported the party said the alliance represented an ideological mismatch. This eroded confidence in its reformist message.
The NCP and LDP have joined the ongoing movement along with the 8-party alliance. pic.twitter.com/eZQURYWvlG
— Jamaat Dhaka City South (@BJI_DCS) December 28, 2025The development comes amid wider political shifts in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has regained momentum following the return of its acting chair Tarique Rahman. He returned after nearly 17 years in exile. The party remains aligned with former prime minister Khaleda Zia, whose health has limited her public role.
The parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12, will take place under an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. He assumed office after Hasina’s removal. Yunus is widely viewed as a key figure in efforts to restore political stability following nearly two years of unrest.
