Explainer: What NCP needs to do to take part in the next national polls
To participate in the next parliamentary election, the NCP must fulfil the legal requirements set by The Representation of the People Order of 1972
The National Citizen Party (NCP), launched on 28 February, is a new political force in Bangladesh, emerging from student-led protests that reshaped the country's political landscape last year.
Led by Convener Nahid Islam, along with key figures such as Akhtar Hossain, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, and Samantha Sharmin, the party aims to establish a second republic by drafting a new constitution and fostering inclusive politics that unites all sections of society.
However, to participate in the next general election, the NCP must get registered with the Election Commission as a parliamentary party like others. For this it needs to fulfil one of the legal requirements set by the Representation of the People Order, 1972, which include securing electoral performance benchmarks, establishing a strong organisational structure, and ensuring internal democratic practices within the party.
Under Section 90B of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (President's Order), any political party seeking registration with the Election Commission must meet at least one of these three criteria: Electoral performance, Organisational structure and Internal democratic practices.
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Under the electoral performance, NCP needs to:
- Secure at least one parliamentary seat with its electoral symbol in any election since Bangladesh's independence
- Obtain at least 5% of total votes cast in constituencies where its candidates contested in any past parliamentary election
NCP, being a newly formed party, has not participated in any previous parliamentary elections. As a result, it has neither won a seat nor secured the required percentage of votes.
Under the organisational structure, NCP has to:
- Establish a functional central office and district offices in at least one-third of administrative districts
- Have offices in at least 100 Upazilas or Metropolitan Thanas, with at least 200 registered voters as party members in each
Recognising that it does not meet the electoral performance criteria, the NCP has prioritised its efforts toward building a robust party infrastructure. The leadership is actively working to establish its central office while expanding its presence across districts and upazilas.
Reports indicate that the party is accelerating its organisational efforts during Ramadan to meet these conditions.
When it comes to internal democratic practices, NCP needs to:
- Ensure elections for committee members at all levels, including the central committee
- Reserve at least 33% of all committee positions for women
- Prohibit student, teacher, labour, or professional groups from forming affiliated party wings
- Finalise candidate nominations through a structured process, involving grassroots-level panels
While NCP has formed a 217-member convening committee, it must ensure that all committee members are elected democratically.
The party also needs to incorporate the 33% female representation requirement in its constitution and prohibit affiliated wings within specific professional sectors.
Successfully implementing these internal policies will be essential for gaining approval from the Election Commission.
Since the NCP does not fulfil the electoral performance criteria, its path to registration relies on strengthening its organisational presence across multiple administrative districts and ensuring compliance with internal democracy requirements.
Meanwhile, establishing a fully functional central office, district offices, and Thana offices remains crucial for meeting the organisational structure criteria.
NCP's emergence could introduce a significant shift in the country's traditional political dynamics. By advocating for constitutional reform and youth-driven politics, the party is positioning itself as an alternative to the established political entities.
However, without prior electoral success, its legitimacy hinges on building a strong organizational foundation and meeting all legal criteria for registration.
If the NCP successfully completes the registration process, it could reshape the upcoming election by offering a fresh political alternative.
On the other hand, failure to meet the Election Commission's requirements would hinder its ability to contest the next parliamentary election.
The coming months will determine whether the party can transition from a movement-driven platform to a structured political force with nationwide influence.
