DHAKA – The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has stated that it is not part of the simultaneous seven-point movement with Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist parties. The party’s convener, Nahid Islam, announced that the NCP will not form an alliance with major political parties at this time and will instead pursue its own independent political goals.
Islam made the comments during a briefing after a meeting with grassroots activists at the Shaheed Abu Said International Convention Center in Shahbagh on Friday.
He emphasized that there is no alternative to holding a constituent assembly election to provide a legal basis for the “July Charter.” “The Jatiya Nagorik Party wants proportional representation (PR) in the upper house, not the lower house,” he said. “That is why we are not with the parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, who are engaging in a simultaneous movement.”
Nahid Islam further explained, “We are seeking a joint election for both the constituent assembly and the national election, and we have instructed everyone to prepare for that. The NCP will return to the field by October with convener committees at the upazila (sub-district) level.”
He also expressed optimism about the party’s registration with the Election Commission. “The Election Commission could not provide a valid reason for not giving us the Shapla (water lily) symbol. We hope we will get the Shapla symbol,” he said. Islam added that the party is advocating for a functioning upper house and a system of accountability to ensure the proper implementation of the July Charter.
NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossain, who was also present, confirmed that discussions at the meeting focused on the topics of alliances and the constituent assembly. He said that local activists had demanded that those who are “Awami collaborators” should be brought to justice.
Leaders from the district and upazila-level coordination committees of the country attended the meeting.
