The National Citizen Party (NCP) has officially opened its nomination process for the upcoming national elections, setting the minimum price of nomination forms at Tk 10,000. However, in a symbolic gesture of solidarity, July movement fighters, injured protesters, and daily wage laborers can purchase the same forms for just Tk 2,000.
The announcement was made by NCP’s Chief Coordinator and Head of the Central Election Steering Committee, Nasir Uddin Patwary, at a press conference held Thursday at the party’s central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka. The event marked the formal opening of NCP’s nomination process for all 300 parliamentary seats.
“We have kept the form price at a minimum of Tk 10,000, but anyone willing to contribute more is welcome,” said Patwary, explaining that the party initially considered Tk 50,000 but reduced it to ensure inclusivity and discourage political elitism. “Those who are committed to our cause will collect the form for a nominal fee. The small amount we charge is just to help run the organization,” he added.
Patwary further announced that nomination forms can be collected online through the NCP’s official website, as well as through divisional secretaries across the country. Candidates may also submit their applications directly at the central office.
Reaffirming NCP’s plan to contest in all 300 constituencies, Patwary hinted at potential alliances: “If the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami come forward in the spirit of reform and commit to implementing the July Charter, we are open to forming a coalition.”
Calling on opposition leaders to move beyond personal and ideological rigidity, he quipped, “If you can marry off your children to each other, why can’t you agree on matters of national importance?”
Patwary emphasized that NCP’s nominations will not serve as mere party tokens but will aim to bring true representatives of the people to the forefront. “We want to return power to citizens. Those who receive our nomination will not be party candidates—they will be candidates of the people,” he stated.
The press conference was moderated by NCP’s Senior Joint Member Secretary and Central Election Committee Secretary, Tasnim Zara. Among those present were Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib, Joint Conveners Mahbub Alam Mahir, Khaled Saifullah, and Ehtesham Haque, Joint Member Secretaries Abdullah Al Amin and Zahirul Islam, Alaudin Mohammad, Humayra Noor, Joint Chief Organizer Saifullah Haidar, and National Youth Force Convener Md. Tarikul Islam.
