Dhaka: The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) has declared its opposition to the participation of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League in upcoming elections.
In an interview with The Diplomat, NCP convenor Nahid Islam stated, “We do not want the Awami League to participate in the elections.”
He added that those within the party responsible for wrongdoing must face trial before any political participation is considered.
Islam outlined NCP’s vision for a “Second Republic” through the establishment of a Constituent Assembly, which would draft a new constitution reflecting the values of the 1971 Liberation War and the July Uprising.
He emphasised the need to restructure Bangladesh’s power dynamics and reform the nation’s governance.
Emerging from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (SAD), the NCP is viewed as being backed by interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
SAD began as a protest against the government job quota system but evolved into a mass uprising that culminated in the ousting of the Awami League regime in August 2024.
The violent protests reportedly claimed over 1,400 lives, according to the UN Human Rights Office, and targeted police and Awami League members.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left for India during the uprising, and most of her party’s leaders either went into hiding or were arrested.
Yunus, who took charge of the interim government, initiated a series of reforms, including constitutional changes, but has yet to set a definitive timeline for elections.
While some political parties, including the BNP, are pressing for early elections after minimal reforms, NCP insists on prioritising trials, law and order, and the establishment of a new constitution.
“The focus is on ensuring accountability for the previous regime, achieving stability, and drafting a new constitution. Elections are not our immediate priority,” Islam clarified.
The NCP’s hardline stance has drawn criticism, with BNP opposing the idea of banning the Awami League or discarding the 1972 Constitution.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir accused certain groups of attempting to undermine the legacy of the Liberation War.
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Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has stated that the Election Commission will determine who participates in the elections.
While he indicated polls could occur by December this year, he suggested the timeline could extend to mid-2025 if broader reforms are pursued.
Islam’s resignation from the interim cabinet to lead the NCP has fuelled speculation that the party enjoys government backing.
However, he maintains that the NCP is committed to creating a balanced and independent political system in Bangladesh, free from foreign influence and centered on national interests.
