Nahid says NCP primary list of candidates by 15 Nov, open to ideological alliances

The National Citizen Party (NCP) will announce by 15 November its preliminary list of candidates for the 13th national election, the party's Convener Nahid Islam said today (5 November), adding that any alliance with other political parties would be formed only on an ideological basis.

"Discussions on alliances or partnerships must come from a place of shared values. If any political party expresses solidarity with the reform demands we outlined in the July Charter, we will consider forming a coalition," he said.

The NCP leader was speaking to reporters after visiting the family of Gazi Salahuddin in Narayanganj's Siddhirganj. Salahuddin, who took part in last year's July Uprising, died on 26 October from bullet injuries sustained during the movement.

He said NCP has made it clear that it is preparing to contest the election, scheduled for the first week of February, independently, targeting all 300 constituencies. "Although we may avoid certain seats out of respect for those who played a leading role in the fight for democracy - for instance, Begum Khaleda Zia's seat."

"Our goal is to challenge the money-driven, godfather-dominated election culture. We want to see honest, hardworking citizens — teachers, imams, and community leaders — representing the people in parliament," Nahid said.

Nahid also called on the government to support families of those injured or killed during the July Uprising, saying many were still awaiting proper treatment and recognition.

"The interim government failed to ensure medical care for the wounded, and as a result, the number of martyrs keeps rising," he said, urging the next elected government to make a firm commitment to their welfare.

Our stance on July Charter clear: Nahid

Amid the interim government's directive giving political parties one week to resolve disputes over the implementation of the July Charter and the timing of the referendum, Nahid said his party's stance on the matter is clear.

"We have made our position clear regarding the July Charter that the order for this charter must be issued by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and that the Note of Dissent will have no relevance," he said.

He added, "The referendum must be held properly. We have sufficient public opinion in favour of these demands. Only by proceeding this way will the reform be properly completed."

On efforts to reach a consensus, Nahid said informal discussions with other political parties are ongoing.

"We have spoken with them before, and the rest is up to them. We have observed that some parties maintain a stance against the reform, opposing the July Charter and the referendum. They must move away from their position. Otherwise, implementation will not be possible, and this will lead to rejection from the public," he said.

When asked about the possibility of a joint meeting among the parties, Nahid said, "The government has given one week's time. We have conveyed our message to all parties and have met and talked informally. The rest will be possible to consolidate once they clarify their positions."