NCP broadens political base with high-profile joins
The National Citizen Party (NCP) continued to widen its political footprint on Friday, formally welcoming a series of high-profile figures, including expelled BNP leader Ishaq Sarkar, in what appears to be a calculated push to consolidate its position as an emerging political platform.
The joining ceremony took place at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in the capital, under the banner “Political Leaders and Citizens Joining NCP.”
The event was attended by senior party leaders, including NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, along with other top-tier figures.
Among the notable new entrants were Fersamin Haque Iqbal (Flora), granddaughter of undivided Bangla’s former State Minister A.K. Fazlul Huq, content creator Nuruzzaman Kafi, and Mahiyuddin Rony, a former Dhaka University student who gained attention for leading protests against alleged irregularities in the railway sector during the Awami League regime.
While Fersamin joined the party centrally, she was unable to attend the programme in person due to being abroad.
The development follows a similar joining earlier this month. On April 19, 44 leaders from Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh), and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement joined the NCP.
A significant portion of those leaders were affiliated with UP Bangladesh, a political platform formed largely by former Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders.
On Friday’s programme, Ishaq Sarkar emerged as the central attraction.
He arrived with supporters chanting slogans underscoring his popularity and past political career in Old Dhaka, portraying him as a dedicated and committed leader of BNP.
Party insiders indicated that a considerable numbers of followers have also aligned themselves with the NCP alongside him.
Addressing the gathering, Nahid Islam highlighted the symbolic and political importance of the joining of the new members from different political parties.
He described Fersamin as a distinguished representative from Barishal and welcomed Kafi as a voice of the younger generation.
Referring to Mahiyuddin Rony as a fellow fighter of the July Movement, Nahid emphasized the party’s commitment to collective action.
On Ishaq Sarkar, Nahid said he needs no separate introduction, noting his leadership roles in Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal and his long involvement in anti-authoritarian movements.
“He has consistently stood with the people and the youth, setting aside personal interests,” Nahid remarked, adding that Sarkar’s inclusion would serve as an inspiration for the party’s activists.
The programme began around 3:30pm with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthem.
Speeches were delivered by several leaders, including the party’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary and Dhaka-7 candidate Tarek Ahmed Adel. Later, the newly joined leaders were formally welcomed with flowers.
In a further expansion later in the event, Maksudur Rahman Sohel, a leader of the Cultural Liberation Alliance, also joined the party.
The event concluded with speeches from the newly inducted figures, who shared their expectations and political goals within the NCP framework.
Senior leaders, including MP Abdullah Al Amin, Sarjis Alam, and party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, also addressed the gathering.
The continued influx of political activists, social activists, and public figures suggests that the NCP is actively positioning itself as a broader political platform, aiming to attract diverse constituencies amid Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape.
