NCP plunges into internal crisis weeks after launch

The National Citizen Party (NCP), a political force born from Bangladesh's July 2024 student-led uprising and formally launched on 28 February, is facing a major internal crisis just three weeks into its existence.

The controversy, rooted not in external elements but in public statements from its own leaders, has exposed rifts at the top levels of the party and raised questions about its organisational unity and political maturity.

The turmoil began when Hasnat Abdullah, NCP's chief organiser (South), posted a Facebook statement on 21 March, where he accused the army of orchestrating a plan to rehabilitate a "refined Awami League".

He alleged that during an 11 March meeting at Dhaka Cantonment, army officials proposed this idea and offered seat-sharing arrangements as incentives, suggesting that other parties had already agreed to the plan.

Hasnat's post ignited a firestorm of public debate and political commentary. The claim that the army was intervening to ensure the return of the Awami League under a new face added fuel to long-standing concerns over military involvement in civilian politics.

However, the following day, Hasnat issued a clarification, stating that his criticism was not directed at the army as an institution but at "interference in politics by certain elements within it".

He said he respected the military but opposed any role it might play in shaping political outcomes.

In response to growing public scrutiny, the Army Headquarters confirmed to Netra News that the meeting with the Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman had taken place. 

The army clarified that the session was requested by Hasnat and another NCP leader Sarjis Alam and that the Army Chief had only shared personal observations about the political landscape, including the Awami League. 

The army firmly denied making any political proposals, calling the claims a "laughable and immature fabrication."

The internal divisions within the NCP became clearer when Sarjis Alam, chief organiser (North), contradicted Hasnat in his own Facebook post. 

While acknowledging the meeting, Sarjis partially echoed the Army Chief's remarks, stating he did not consider them a proposal but rather a reflection of opinion. He also criticised Hasnat's decision to publicise the meeting, calling it inappropriate.

The dispute deepened when Abdul Hannan Masud, the party's senior joint chief coordinator, commented under Sarjis's post, bluntly asking: "Who is lying?" 

Further disapproval came from party ranks. Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said the meeting was not held on behalf of the party and criticised Hasnat's original post for lacking courtesy. 

He said the party leadership had not been informed about the meeting beforehand. At an iftar in Sylhet, the NCP leader described Hasnat's public statement as "indecent".

However, Patwari said no rift or division had emerged within the party.

While NCP Convener Nahid Islam has refrained from directly criticising Hasnat, he reaffirmed the party's position that no state institution should interfere in political matters, a stance that subtly aligns with Hasnat's core concern.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam's statement was also significant. In an oblique reference, he said no state institutions should be made a target of the masses.

Anger in NCP

Several NCP leaders, speaking anonymously to The Business Standard, expressed disappointment over the situation. 

"The lack of a party constitution or code of conduct has allowed such issues to arise. The leaders are all key figures in the mass movement, but without proper guidelines, this was bound to happen," one leader said.

In a WhatsApp group, NCP leader Khalid Saifulah wrote, "A few individuals are airing personal views without any organisational decision-making. They're making contradictory statements without concern, using celebrity status, controversy, and populism to pursue personal politics. If that's their approach, they should leave our party and bring in TikTok influencers instead."

However, Senior Joint Convenor Samantha Sharmin assured the media that, despite these online disagreements, the party's spirit remained intact. 

"There is no division. We will complete the drafting of the constitution and code of conduct after Eid," she added.