Abu Jakir :
A widening rift between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) came into sharp focus on Wednesday, as both parties staged rival protests over the Election Commission’s (EC) handling of BNP leader Ishraq Hossain’s disputed mayoral claim.
BNP supporters took to the streets of Dhaka, demanding Ishraq’s immediate swearing-in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Simultaneously, the NCP held a protest outside the EC headquarters, accusing the commission of operating as a de facto extension of the BNP and calling for its urgent restructuring.
These developments follow several days of heightened political tension surrounding Ishraq’s claim to the mayoral post-nearly five years after he withdrew from the 2020 city election citing vote rigging. His supporters have since camped outside City Hall, and on Wednesday morning they blocked key roads near the Matsya Bhaban intersection, causing significant disruption in Kakrail and nearby areas.
In contrast, the NCP has criticised the EC for issuing what it described as a one-sided order in favour of Ishraq, while failing to appeal the relevant tribunal verdict in the higher courts. At a press conference late Tuesday, NCP leaders alleged the EC had aligned itself with BNP interests and failed to uphold institutional neutrality.
Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) on Wednesday accused the Election Commission (EC) of biasness, alleging it no longer functions as a constitutional body but has effectively become an extension of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
“The complex situation stemming from the 2020 city election is a direct result of the EC’s partisan conduct,” said NCP Secretary Akhtar Hossain. “Instead of representing the public interest, the commission appears to have given special consideration to the plaintiff in this case.”
Observers say the unfolding events mark a sharp divergence between the BNP and NCP-two parties that previously stood united in their opposition to the Awami League before its ouster in August 2024.
“BNP is using the Ishraq issue to pressure the interim government,” said political analyst Mahiuddin Ahmed. “However, the NCP is pushing back, wary of BNP monopolising the opposition narrative.”
He added that BNP’s recent demands for a firm national election date reflect mounting frustration. “Their sudden focus on Ishraq suggests a bid to reassert influence amid delays in the national electoral process.”
Ahmed also noted persistent rumours suggesting that pro-BNP figures within the EC may have accelerated the commission’s decision in Ishraq’s favour. “There was no pressing need to fast-track a directive in favour of a candidate who had withdrawn from the race,” he observed.
The rivalry between the two opposition parties appears rooted in differing visions of political reform. The NCP has distanced itself from BNP’s proposed reform agenda, dismissing it as superficial and inadequate in addressing systemic issues in the post-uprising political landscape.
“This is a contest for political legitimacy,” Ahmed said. “BNP has struggled to adapt since the July uprising, and that’s where the NCP sees a clear gap.”
As street protests continue, the legal dimension of the dispute is also intensifying. A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking to block Ishraq’s swearing-in.
After a second day of hearings, the court has scheduled its ruling for Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Ishraq Hossain posted a defiant message on his verified Facebook page, urging supporters to remain on the streets “until the goal is achieved.” On Wednesday, demonstrators, equipped with loudspeakers and chanting slogans, continued their sit-in, paralysing operations at the South City Corporation for a second consecutive day.
The NCP, however, has condemned the prolonged disruption, arguing that it is harming public services. “Citizens are suffering without an active mayor,” said Akhtar Hossain. “But the current EC-established under laws imposed by a previous authoritarian regime-is incapable of resolving the crisis. The solution lies in fresh local government elections under a reformed commission.”
Analysts have also pointed to the silence of Jamaat-e-Islami, a longstanding BNP ally, as a notable aspect of the current standoff. The Islamist party has yet to take a public stance on the BNP-NCP divide.
Earlier this month, tensions flared between Jamaat and NCP-aligned figures after Mahfuz Alam, an advisor linked to the NCP, posted a statement demanding that collaborators of the 1971 war apologise and abandon pro-Pakistan ideology. The post drew criticism from Jamaat supporters, although Mahfuz holds no formal position in the NCP.
In light of these developments, political observers are questioning how long the interim government can maintain its balancing act. “They’ve attempted to steer clear of overt partisanship,” said Ahmed. “But decisions perceived as favouring one side over another are gradually undermining that neutrality.”
