Tensions have flared within the 11-party alliance ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Elections as the Jatiya Nagarik Party (NCP) finds itself at odds with its coalition partners over seat-sharing agreements and grassroots cooperation.
Despite an initial understanding that the NCP would contest 30 seats—with 29 seats reserved exclusively for them and one left open—final data from the Election Commission reveals a significant breach of this arrangement.
Broken Promises on Seat Withdrawals
According to the alliance’s internal negotiations, coalition partners were expected to withdraw their candidates from the 29 seats allocated to the NCP. However, an analysis of the final candidate list shows that alliance partners have maintained their candidacy in 12 of those 29 seats. Including the designated “open” seat, the NCP is now facing “friendly” fire from its own allies in a total of 13 constituencies.
Earlier, Mahbub Alam Stream, head of the NCP’s media subcommittee, indicated that only six seats remained disputed. These included:
- Chattogram-8 & Narsingdi-2: Jamaat-e-Islami candidates.
- Narayanganj-4: Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.
- Sirajganj-6: AB Party.
- Dhaka-20: Khelafat Majlis.
- Rajbari-2: Khelafat Majlis.
The final list, however, exposes six additional constituencies where partners failed to withdraw:
- Panchagarh-1: Bangladesh Labour Party.
- Rangpur-4: Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.
- Kurigram-2: AB Party.
- Dhaka-19: LDP.
- Cumilla-4: Khelafat Majlis.
- Netrokona-2: Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan.
Internal Friction and Ideological Clashes
The discord is not limited to overlapping candidacies; reports of non-cooperation at the field level have surfaced, particularly involving female candidates.
In Dhaka-19, NCP candidate Dilshana Parul has reportedly faced resistance from Jamaat-e-Islami activists, with video footage surfacing of workers labeling her a “Shahbagi” to justify their lack of support. Similarly, in Dhaka-20, NCP member Sardar Amirul Islam alleged via social media that Jamaat workers refused to distribute leaflets for candidate Nabila Tasnid, citing her lack of a hijab in the campaign photos as the reason.
On the flip side, NCP candidates have also complicated the alliance’s math by refusing to withdraw from Shariatpur-1 and Sherpur-1, seats currently held by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Jamaat-e-Islami respectively.
Seeking a Resolution
Speaking on the crisis, Sadia Farzana Dina, a member of the NCP Election Management Committee, acknowledged the logistical and morale-shapping hurdles.
“Our candidates are facing significant trouble because partners did not withdraw as promised. While only Maulvibazar-4 was meant to be open, many others remain contested. We have raised this with the 11-party Liaison Committee today and are hopeful for a swift resolution,” she said.
As the election draws closer, the NCP finds itself in a precarious position—balancing its aspirations for 30 seats against the reality of a coalition that appears increasingly fragmented on the ground.
