NCP’s Participation in Jamaat‑Led Long March Sparks Debate on Party’s Autonomy

Dhaka, 2 October – The National Citizen Party (NCP) joined a long march organised by a coalition of eleven parties under the leadership of Jamaat‑e‑Islami (JI). The move has intensified scrutiny of the NCP’s autonomy and its ability to present a unique political alternative.

According to reports, the NCP’s decision to ally with Jamaat—an organization that opposed Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation and supported the Pakistani army—has come at a high political price. By February, when the party marked its first year, at least sixty leaders and activists had resigned, expressing dissent over the alliance’s direction.

During the long march on 19 September, NCP coordinator Nahid Islam launched a blunt challenge to Prime Minister Tajik Rahman, insisting the premier either flee by helicopter or resign with dignity. Islam’s remarks were delivered at the Jamaat‑led rally rather than a NCP gathering, underscoring the intertwined nature of the two groups.

The march was built around seven demands: implementation of the February referendum decision, containment of rising inflation, mitigation of energy and fertilizer shortages, restoration of law and order, and a crackdown on corruption. Observers note that the NCP now regularly appears alongside Jamaat in protests, alliance meetings, and parliamentary opposition activities.

Emerging from a student movement that helped topple the Awami League in August 2024, the NCP pledged a fresh political pathway. Yet its proximity to Jamaat raises doubts about whether it can sustain an independent identity. While the party labels the relationship as strategic rather than ideological, it faces the urgent task of convincing voters—within less than two years of its inception—that it remains a distinct political force, especially as the partnership survived the post‑election period.

Jamaat chief Shafiqul Rahman has become a prominent opposition leader, and Nahid Islam now acts as the principal opposition watchdog. Their continued cooperation outside parliament further blurs the lines between the two parties, amplifying concerns over the NCP’s separate political brand.