The aftermath of the NCP's alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many of its former leaders. While the party leadership claims to be in talks with those who resigned in protest, the leaders are standing firm on their decision to leave.
The NCP's overtures to bring back these leaders have been met with a resounding "no." The party's top brass claims to be in discussions, but the leaders insist that the only way they would consider returning is if the NCP severs its ties with Jamaat. As of now, at least 15 top and middle-ranking leaders, including former senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara and former joint convener Khaled Saifullah, have resigned, while six others have withdrawn their candidacies for the upcoming national election.
The NCP's spokesperson, Asif Mahmud, claims that the leaders left the party not out of disappointment, but due to underlying issues. However, the leaders who left have dismissed these claims as "false and fabricated." They allege that the leadership is using this narrative to mislead the people and party supporters before the polls.
Former leaders have also revealed that despite calls from NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, and Asif Mahmud, no strong initiatives have been taken to address their core ideological concerns. Former joint convener Khaled Saifullah denied any such engagements, stating that he has not been in contact with anyone responsible for his return to the party.
The process of joining the Jamaat-led alliance has been described as undemocratic and premeditated by dissident leaders. One leader, seeking anonymity, called it a "bad deal" and stated that they had opposed it from the very beginning. According to him, the NCP's top brass announced a meeting on December 24 via the executive committee's WhatsApp group to discuss the alliance. Around 40 members attended, but many who opposed the alliance were absent.
"As a result, all those present except two or three opined in favor of the alliance. The decision was implemented by showing a majority among those present," said a leader familiar with the proceedings. Another leader claimed that the path to the alliance became easier for the top leadership following the death of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
Former NCP ICT cell head Farhad Alam Bhuiyan, who joined the party after the mass uprising, opposed the alliance immediately. "I did not want to be a part of the so-called politics," he said. "When I saw the process of allying with the leadership of Jamaat, I immediately opposed it through a note of dissent and was the first to resign."
Regarding the pressure to return, Farhad said, "The party top leaders have contacted me and urged me to return. However, I have made it clear that I will not return unless the NCP severs ties with Jamaat."
Sources revealed that the NCP had scheduled an internal meeting with the leaders who had resigned to discuss their reinstatement. However, within minutes of the schedule being set, the announcement leaked outside party circles, leading to the abrupt cancellation of the meeting. The party leadership, however, said the door remains open for the leaders to return.
The NCP, founded in February last year by frontline activists of the July uprising, has seen many of its leaders part ways over various issues.
