Bangladesh’s NCP forges alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, sparking internal rifts ahead of elections

Bangladesh’s NCP forges alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, sparking internal rifts ahead of elections

Bangladesh’s newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the country’s general elections, a move that has triggered sharp internal divisions and resignations within the party.

The decision was confirmed on Sunday by NCP convener Nahid Islam during a press briefing at the party’s temporary office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, according to The Dhaka Tribune. The NCP, founded by youth leaders who played a key role in the July uprising that led to the fall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, had earlier planned to contest all 300 parliamentary seats independently.

Explaining the shift, Nahid said the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi had fundamentally altered Bangladesh’s political environment. “After the martyrdom of Sharif Osman Hadi and the way he was openly shot dead, Bangladesh’s political context has changed significantly,” he said. “Through this killing, we understand that hegemonic and aggressive forces in the country are still active.” He stressed that the alliance with Jamaat was not based on ideology.

The tie-up has proved contentious within the NCP. While a section of leaders has backed the move as a practical response to a fragmented political landscape, others have strongly opposed it, citing Jamaat’s controversial past. Before the announcement, around 30 NCP members reportedly wrote to Nahid Islam, warning that the alliance contradicted the party’s stated commitment to democratic values.

The internal rift has already led to departures. Tasnim Jara, a senior party figure who returned from Britain to join the NCP, resigned and said she would contest the election as an independent candidate. Several other members have also quit in protest.

AFP reported that Jamaat-e-Islami confirmed reaching an agreement with the student-led NCP after extended negotiations, despite resistance from within the younger party. Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman separately announced another pact with the Liberal Democratic Party, saying, “We were eight parties in the alliance. Now two new political parties have joined us.”

The Jamaat-led bloc is largely made up of smaller Islamist parties with limited parliamentary representation in the past. The alliance has drawn renewed scrutiny because Jamaat has long faced criticism over its opposition to Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan and alleged involvement in abuses during the 1971 war, issues that have led to years of trials, leadership bans, and political marginalisation.

As Bangladesh heads toward elections expected in early 2026, the NCP’s attempt to convert its protest-era momentum into electoral strength now faces a major test, both at the ballot box and within its own ranks.