UP Bangladesh inclusion sparks rift within NCP ahead of coalition talks
The coalition under discussion was initially expected to bring together Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, UP Bangladesh, and the Rastro Songskar Andolon under NCP’s leadership
The NCP remains split over joining a new alliance outside the BNP-Jamaat bloc. Despite public optimism from senior leaders, internal voices and allied parties signal mounting hesitation, driven largely by disputes over including United People's (UP) Bangladesh, leaving the coalition's future uncertain.
The NCP's executive council met for four hours from 5:30pm on Wednesday, with most of its 51 members present. Leaders said the meeting reaffirmed broad support for forming a "third bloc" ahead of the national election, however, declined to commit to any specific platform. Several senior leaders reportedly objected to joining forces with UP Bangladesh, a central component of the proposed alliance.
The coalition under discussion, intended to position itself as an alternative to both BNP and Jamaat, was initially expected to bring together Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, UP Bangladesh, and the Rastro Songskar Andolon under NCP's leadership. Discussions also included the possibility of bringing in the Ganadhikar Parishad and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab).
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Broader configuration appears uncertain
Ganadhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur told The Business Standard that his party is not considering joining any alliance at this stage. "With the election schedule approaching quickly, there isn't much time to form a coalition," he said.
"We have long coordinated movements with the BNP, and seat-sharing talks with them are still ongoing. If the BNP does not include us, we may contest alone. For now, we're not thinking about an alliance with NCP," he added.
AB Party General Secretary Barrister Fuad echoed the uncertainty, saying discussions were ongoing but "nothing has been finalised." UP Bangladesh, however, offered a different account.
Convenor Ali Ahsan Zunayad maintains that the process of forming the alliance had already been streamlined and that the NCP's top leadership had initially approved the plan. "But due to some reasons, the process has slowed down," he said.
Hasnat Kayum of the Rashtro Songskar Andolon insists the plan remains stuck due to internal opposition from a number of NCP members. "The NCP has not yet been able to pass the proposal in their internal meeting. Their objections are mainly about UP Bangladesh…Once leadership and objectives are finalised, the alliance will be formally announced," he said.
Earlier on Tuesday night, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary announced that a new alliance outside the BNP-Jamaat sphere would emerge soon, pledging to uphold the aspirations of July's mass uprising. He said the proposed bloc would field candidates in all 300 seats, stand against "religious fascism, extortion, and corruption," and support reformists, women, and religious scholars.
But within the NCP, dissatisfaction over the alliance process is becoming more visible. Abu Touhid Md Siam, senior joint convenor of NCP's student wing, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, wrote on Facebook that the party must remember its roots in a historic post-1971 political shift.
"Even if the organisation is weak, the foundation we stand on is stronger than any party today," he wrote. "Falling into the trap of pro-Maududi proxies would be suicidal. Please don't disappoint us or push us back into the vicious cycle of old politics. Show courage, we will give our lives if needed."
Former Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Andolon leader and July coordinator Abdul Kader responded sharply, saying, "Sadly, whether you or I give our lives does not matter to them. It never will. A handful of people are moving with a fixed agenda tied to their own interests."
The exchange has fuelled speculation about internal unease within the NCP, and whether the party can resolve its own divisions to materialise the alliance ultimately.
