Abu Jakir :
The emergence of the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed in the wake of last year’s July Uprising, is reshaping Bangladesh’s political landscape as discussions over possible mergers, alliances, and joint electoral strategies intensify.
Political polarization is increasingly centering on the new youth-led force, with several parties weighing their next moves ahead of the upcoming national election slated for mid-February next year.
Over the past weeks, NCP leaders have held a series of informal meetings with Gono Odhikar Parishad, AB Party, Gonosonghoti Andolon, Rashtra Sangskar Andolon and Aup Bangladesh.
According to insiders, the talks have revolved around two key agendas: some parties are considering merging into the NCP, while others are exploring issue-based coalitions.
If negotiations progress smoothly, political observers believe that within a month, a unified roadmap for implementing the July Charter could be announced, along with coordinated programs of action.
While no formal decision has yet been reached, sources describe the progress as encouraging. “We are working to bring together the pro-July forces,” said Alauddin Mohammad, joint member secretary of NCP, adding that if full unification proves difficult, at least an issue-based alliance would be pursued.
Leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad have acknowledged that the possibility exists, but stressed that no official merger proposal has been tabled. “There has been no formal discussion of unification. However, we are considering joint action on justified demands,” the NCP leader said.
The July Charter, already finalized after months of dialogue with political actors and experts, remains at the heart of these talks.
The interim government’s Consensus Commission has been facilitating discussions on its implementation, which include reforms such as proportional representation (PR) in the legislature. While BNP has distanced itself from parts of the reform agenda, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Islami Andolon, and others have largely endorsed the framework.
Tensions surfaced earlier this week when Jamaat announced joint protest programs demanding July Charter implementation and proportional representation in both upper and lower houses of parliament. NCP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and AB Party ultimately backed away from joining the campaign.
Explaining the decision, NCP’s senior joint convener and liaison committee head, Ariful Islam Adib said, “Jamaat, Islami Andolon, and Khelafat Majlis want PR in both chambers. Our position is PR only in the upper house. That difference is one of the main reasons we are not joining the joint movement.”
Despite these divergences, discussions with centrist and reform-oriented parties remain active. AB Party’s general secretary, Asaduzzaman Fuad, confirmed: “Multilayered discussions are underway over unification and issue-based coalition building. More meetings will be needed before a final decision.”
A central leader of Rashtra Sangskar Andolon echoed the sentiment, describing the talks as “positive, though still at an early stage.” A United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh) leader noted that merger and alliance options remain open, with further dialogue expected in the coming weeks.
Political analysts say the NCP is consciously steering away from Islamist blocs to build a centrist, youth-driven coalition, while simultaneously attempting to attract reform-minded leaders from other groups. This dynamic, they argue, could crystallize into a new electoral pole outside of the traditional BNP-Jamaat axis, significantly altering the balance of power in the run-up to elections.
With the July Charter nearing implementation and NCP’s registration process advancing, the coming month is expected to be decisive. If talks succeed, the country’s political stage could soon witness the launch of a new unified bloc or coalition under the NCP’s banner, marking a turning point in the country’s post-uprising electoral realignment.
