Asif Mahmud joins NCP, not contesting polls
NN ONLINE:
Interim Government’s former adviser and July mass uprising frontliner Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan today joined the National Citizen Party (NCP) and will work as the party’s spokesperson and chief of its Election Steering Committee replacing Nasiruddin Patwary.
Asif also announced that he will not contest the upcoming parliamentary election, saying he will instead focus on overseeing the party’s election campaign and organisational coordination ahead of the polls.
The announcement was made at a press conference today at NCP office. “The day would remain historic for the party as Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, one of the key organisers of the July mass uprising, officially joined the party after stepping down from his role in the interim government,” said NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary.
Nasiruddin said, “Asif Mahmud played a courageous role during the July mass uprising and worked from within the government to realise its aspirations. Today, he has joined NCP to continue that struggle politically.”
He also announced that Patwary himself had stepped down as chief of the party’s election steering committee as he would be contesting the election. The responsibility has now been handed over to Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, who will not contest the election but will focus on strengthening the organization and ensuring electoral success for NCP-backed candidates.
Patwary said the party’s emergency political council meeting, held online earlier in the day, unanimously decided to appoint Asif Mahmud as party spokesperson and head of the restructured election committee, comprising leaders who are not contesting polls.
Addressing journalists after joining the party, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan recalled the sacrifices of the July 2024 mass uprising, saying nearly 1,400 activists were killed and countless others injured during the movement that ended what he termed a “long fascist rule”.
“The post-uprising period and the upcoming election are equally crucial for Bangladesh. Through a democratic process, the country is moving towards forming a democratic government,” he said.
He stressed the need for unity among all forces of the July uprising, particularly after the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, and said the election offers another opportunity to realise the aspirations of the martyrs and the people.
Asif Mahmud announced he would not contest the 2025 parliamentary election. “Rather than going to parliament myself, I want to work so that many of my fellow comrades of the July uprising can be elected and become voices for the people in the parliament,” he said.
Referring to the upcoming vote, he said voters would cast ballots both to elect representatives and in a referendum. “If the ‘Yes’ vote wins in the referendum, Bangladesh will move a hundred years ahead through reforms,” he said, adding that NCP would work to ensure victory both in the election and the referendum.