NCP struggles with ideological split after mass exits

National Citizen Party (NCP), born out of the July mass uprising with the promise of a "new political settlement" based on centrist, reform-oriented politics, is now facing a severe organisational and ideological crisis. A wave of high-profile resignations has destabilised the party from top to bottom, raising critical questions about the political future of its defecting leaders and the direction of post-NCP realignments.

Wave of Resignations
The crisis surfaced on December 28 when Senior Joint Member Secretary and NCP's Dhaka-9 nominee Dr Tasneem Zara announced her resignation. The situation deepened as joint convener and Dhaka-17 candidate Tajnuba Jabin stepped down. This was followed by the resignations of joint member secretary and media cell head Mushfiqur Us Salehin, central joint chief coordinator Khan Muhammad Mursalin, joint conveners Khaled Saifullah and Farhad Alam Bhuiyan, joint member secretary Arif Sohel, central organizer (northern region) Azad Khan Bhasani, Asif Nehal, Mir Habib Al Manzoor, Marzuk Ahmed, Wahiduzzaman, Al Amin Tutul, and others.     
On December 30, Dutee Aranya Chowdhury Preeti, NCP's northern region organizer and senior joint member secretary of National Youth Power, also resigned. The latest resignation came from Syeda Neelima Dola, the party's Faridpur region supervisor.

Besides formal resignations, several leaders became inactive. Joint convener Monira Sharmin withdrew from the election, Nusrat Tabassum announced inactivity during the polls, and senior joint convener Samantha Sharmin refused to contest, calling the Jamaat seat-sharing deal a "suicidal decision."

At the grassroots, resignations continued. On December 28, Feni district convener Abul Kashem quit the party and his Feni-3 candidacy. Nazmul Sohag, NCP's Gaibandha-3 nominee and central organizer for the northern region, also withdrew.

Earlier, on September 10, central joint chief organizer Major (retd.) Abdullah Al Mahmud and central member Major (retd.) Mohammad Salahuddin resigned, citing repeated "derogatory comments against the army and former army personnel" and the leadership's failure to take corrective action.

Why Such Fragmentation?
The crisis began with the NCP's alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami-led bloc. Many resigning leaders say they joined the party to build a "liberal, inclusive and centrist new Bangladesh," but view the Jamaat partnership as a departure from that ideology.

After the July uprising, internal polarization deepened over the alliance, creating leadership vacuums and sparking speculation over whether defectors will join major parties or form a new platform.

Grassroots activists express growing disillusionment, alleging the party has abandoned inclusive politics. The resignations have weakened internal stability and eroded public credibility.

"Since resigning, everyone has been warning me not to criticize anyone from BNP-Jamaat, to stay quiet, not to be too revolutionary. But I don't think anyone can stop me except Allah," Dr. Tajnuba Jabin wrote on Facebook.

New Political Tendencies of the Resigned Leaders
Although the NCP has attempted to bring back defectors, several have categorically rejected reconciliation, with one former leader stating, "There is no return to the party, the party is losing its ideology. Many more will resign, they will become inactive."

Sources indicate that some resigned leaders have re-established contact with their former political organizations, including Chhatra Dal and leftist student groups, while others are advocating for the formation of a new, non-communal political platform aligned with the aspirations of the July uprising.

Currently, three major tendencies are observable among the defectors: one faction is leaning toward the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), another is seeking to form a new moderate political platform, and a third segment remains independent or inactive.

Former NCP Chittagong Metropolitan chief coordinator Mir Arshadul Haque has already joined the BNP, while earlier 19 NCP leaders in Khagrachari and 50 leaders in Sripur, Gazipur, also defected to the party. Conversely, Dr. Tasneem Zara has declared her intention to contest as an independent candidate, while several veteran leaders have chosen strategic silence, prompting speculation about a potential "third force" political initiative.

Former NCP media cell editor Mushfiqur Us Salehin stated, "I have not yet decided to join any platform or party." In a video message, Khan Muhammad Mursalin said, "I am resigning from the NCP. But I am not retiring from politics. I am standing in the ranks of the people again in the long fight. I will meet you all again on the streets very soon."

Janajatra, a New Destination for Many
A new "pro-Bangladesh left" political platform, led by former NCP leaders and July uprising student activists, is set to launch on January 16 at the Central Shaheed Minar. Possible names included Janajatra, People's March, Ganasafar, Ijtehad, and People's Action; however, Bangladesh Chhatra Union DU Sangsad President Meghmallar Basu confirmed that the platform will be named "Janajatra."

Former NCP joint convener Anik Roy, former joint member secretary Tuhin Khan, and former anti-discrimination movement coordinator Nazifa Jannat will play key roles in the initiative.

Anik Roy said, "Work is starting now, not as a direct political party, but as a political platform... focusing on policy dialogue, organizing citizens, and building grassroots organizations." He added, "Everything will be announced when the time is right."

Will Mahfuz Alam Reorganize Them?
Former interim government information adviser Mahfuz Alam has signaled plans to launch a new political party.

In a Facebook post, he wrote, "Let's try again... in the last two weeks I have spoken to hundreds of students and citizens who were once optimistic about a new political settlement and alternative political forces... We all want to try again." He further added, "I hope those of you who believe in a non-discriminatory system, human rights, justice and a new socio-political settlement... will contact me."

In another post, he stated, "We want to hear your anger, frustration, and lack of achievement... and discuss how we can start anew."

Sources claim that many former NCP leaders may join Mahfuz Alam if he formally launches the new party.

Trinamool NCP Meanwhile, a faction named "Trinamool NCP," led by Muntasir Mahmud, has begun organizing protests, recently demanding investigations into alleged corruption involving former student advisers Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan.

With resignations, ideological fragmentation, shifting allegiances, and the emergence of alternative platforms, the NCP appears to be at a critical crossroads. Whether the party can retain political relevance-or whether a new force will reshape the post-July political settlement-remains one of the most consequential questions in Bangladesh's current political discourse.