Differences have emerged between the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami over local government elections, nominations in Dhaka’s two city corporations and their positions on recent political issues, raising questions about the future of their 11-party alliance.
Speculation about a possible split intensified after NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam skipped the alliance’s long march programme on October 31. However, leaders of both parties have dismissed the possibility of an imminent break-up.
Several NCP leaders said tensions began when Jamaat decided that alliance partners would contest the upcoming local government elections separately. The NCP is particularly unhappy with Jamaat’s refusal to make way for its candidates in either of Dhaka’s two city corporations.
The NCP has also criticised the conduct of Jamaat’s defeated candidate in the Thakurgaon by-election and the party’s position on several national issues.
Before Nahid’s absence from the long march, NCP leaders Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Hasnat Abdullah had criticised Jamaat’s recent stance in speeches in Dhaka’s Shahbagh and Khulna on October 30. Both raised questions over Jamaat’s role in the Thakurgaon by-election.
Some within the NCP have also questioned Jamaat’s effectiveness as the main opposition party, particularly after its chief said in parliament that the energy and power crisis was not created by the government. They suspect Jamaat may still have an understanding with the BNP because of their long history as alliance partners.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an NCP joint member secretary told Bangla Tribune that Jamaat and the BNP had worked together for a long time and that an indirect understanding between them could still exist despite their current political differences.
He said Jamaat had not taken a strong position over the deteriorating law and order situation and ongoing unrest in the garment sector, raising questions about its performance as the opposition. The NCP was also concerned, he added, although it was too early to say whether the party would leave the alliance.
Asked whether Nahid skipped the long march because of such concerns, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Publicity Secretary Maulana Hasan Junaid, whose party is also part of the alliance, said he did not think that was the reason. However, he acknowledged reports of tensions over whether Jamaat would support Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain in one of Dhaka’s city corporation elections.
He said alliance partners were unhappy that Jamaat’s defeated candidate in the Thakurgaon by-election accepted a flower garland from the BNP’s winning candidate. Jamaat’s relatively soft response to allegations of electoral irregularities and its stance on key issues had also prompted questions about its relationship with the BNP, he added.
City polls at the centre of dispute
An NCP central leader said the disagreement over local government elections was the main reason for the growing distance between the two parties and warned that the NCP could take a different decision if the issue was not resolved soon.
He said the main dispute began during negotiations over city corporation nominations.
The NCP wants Jamaat to make way for its candidates in at least three city corporations, including one in Dhaka. At a meeting between the parties in mid-September, the NCP insisted on securing at least one of the two Dhaka city corporations. Jamaat, however, made it clear that it would not concede either seat.
Jamaat has since announced former Chhatra Shibir president Selim Uddin as its candidate for Dhaka North and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Vice-President Abu Shadik Kayem for Dhaka South. Both have begun campaigning.
Jamaat had offered to concede seats to the NCP in Comilla and Mymensingh, but the NCP rejected the proposal. The NCP has since named its Senior Joint Convener Nasiruddin Patwary for Dhaka South and Senior Joint Member Secretary Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain for Dhaka North.
The Thakurgaon by-election has added to the tensions. The NCP was unhappy that Jamaat’s defeated candidate accepted sweets and a flower garland from the BNP winner on October 29 and did not strongly protest alleged irregularities.
NCP sources said these developments had contributed to Nahid maintaining some distance from the alliance’s programmes, fuelling further speculation about a split.
NCP dismisses split rumours
NCP central leaders have rejected reports of an impending break-up as rumours.
Speaking at a National Youth Power event in Dhaka on November 1, NCP Senior Joint Convener Nasiruddin Patwary said there was no concern about divisions within the 11-party alliance.
He said Nahid’s absence from the latest long march had prompted speculation, but leaders of other alliance partners had also missed previous programmes for various reasons, including illness and other commitments. Attendance by every leader at every programme was not mandatory, he added.
NCP Joint Convener Mahabub Alam also told Bangla Tribune that although differences existed on some issues, reports that the party would leave the alliance were inaccurate.
He said the alliance’s movement on issues including implementation of the July Charter and the referendum verdict was gaining momentum, while government failures had made the platform more relevant.
Jamaat rules out a rift
Jamaat leaders have also dismissed reports that the NCP plans to leave the 11-party alliance.
Saiful Alam Khan Milon, a member of Jamaat’s central executive committee and MP for Dhaka-12, told Bangla Tribune that political alliances could accommodate differences in opinion and strategy without breaking apart.
He acknowledged that the NCP was more interested in contesting local government elections jointly and wanted concessions in some areas. Jamaat, however, had made it clear that all parties could contest the local polls independently.
He said Jamaat had other partners to consider and that conceding seats to the NCP would lead other alliance members to make similar demands. He added that even the BNP, despite its long alliance with Jamaat, had not made way for Jamaat candidates in city corporation elections.
The NCP had already announced its own candidates, he said, adding that there was no immediate threat of a split in the alliance.
