Dhaka, Dec 29 (V7N) — Nusrat Tabassum, Joint Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has announced that she is stepping back from all election-related activities in protest against the party’s decision to participate in a 10-party alliance alongside Jamaat-e-Islami. She made the announcement on Sunday night through a post on social media platform Facebook.

In her statement, Nusrat Tabassum alleged that the decision to enter into an alliance, after repeatedly promising to field candidates in all 300 parliamentary constituencies, amounted to a form of deception toward grassroots leaders and activists.

She contrasted the party’s founding ideals with its current political course, saying that at its inception, the NCP had inspired supporters with a vision of balanced democratic practice, a new political order, moderation, an inclusive social framework, civilization-centered development, and above all, a Bangladesh-oriented political philosophy. She said these principles were deeply embedded in her political beliefs and aspirations and were clearly reflected in the party’s manifesto and official literature at the time of its formation.

Referring to the latest decision, she said that nearly ten months after the party’s founding, the move to join a Jamaat-led 10-party alliance under various conditions marked a clear departure from the NCP’s original ideological position. She argued that the party’s top leadership and policymakers themselves had deviated from the core message that once defined the NCP.

Addressing the issue of grassroots discontent, Nusrat Tabassum said that on multiple occasions, senior party leaders, including the convener, had publicly stated that the NCP would nominate candidates in all 300 constituencies. In that context, she said, the alliance announcement represented a betrayal of expectations, particularly for those at the grassroots level who had already taken nominations and prepared for elections based on those assurances.

Citing these developments, Nusrat Tabassum announced that she was temporarily withdrawing from all party activities during the election period. She added that she would reassess the situation and reserve the right to take any final decision after further consideration.

Her announcement has intensified the ongoing internal crisis within the NCP. Earlier, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin had publicly opposed the alliance decision, though she stated that she would not leave the party. Meanwhile, Mahfuz Alam, described as one of the key organizers behind the July mass uprising, also announced on Sunday night that he would not contest the election as part of the Jamaat–NCP alliance.

The developments signal growing divisions within the National Citizen Party as it navigates its electoral strategy ahead of the national polls.

END/MD/SMA/