NCP faces deadlock in electoral coalition efforts

Efforts to form an electoral alliance led by the National Citizen Party (NCP), including AB Party, Rashtra Songskar Andolon, UP Bangladesh, and Gono Odhikar Parishad, have made little progress, party leaders say. 

Earlier, at an executive committee meeting on 27 November, several NCP leaders opposed joining a bloc with UP Bangladesh. Since then, the party has been unable to advance the alliance formation process and is now moving ahead with candidates for 300 constituencies, planning to revisit discussions after the election schedule is announced.

NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain said nearly 1,500 nomination forms are under verification, with a preliminary list to be announced soon, adding that the party is preparing independently. Senior joint convener Samantha Sharmin noted that alliance talks have made little progress and may resume after the election schedule is announced, emphasising that any future alliance would focus on judicial and reform agendas.

However, a leader involved in the negotiation noted that forming an alliance is practically impossible at this stage, as the NCP is prioritising strategic advantage over ideological alignment.

Describing the alliance talks as stagnant, UP Bangladesh convener Ali Ahsan Jonayed said, "progress may come after the election schedule is announced", while Rashtra Songskar Andolon president Hasnat Kaiyum noted that some parties are discouraged, though discussions could continue.

Meanwhile, at an event today (1 December), NCP convenor Nahid Islam remarked, "One party has openly taken a position against reforms, while another is opposing reforms secretly. As a result, no consensus on reforms has been reached."

He added, "No one, except a fallen autocracy, should be on the side of voting in favour. Yet, one party may campaign against reform and a no-vote strategy."