NCP's declaration on Second Republic, Constituent Assembly election raises controversies 

Within a few days of formation of the National Citizens Party (NCP) controversies have sparked over its declaration to hold election of Constituent Assembly for changing the country's constitution aimed at turning Bangladesh into a Second Republic.

The allegations of patronage of the interim government also raised controversy whether NCP is a government backed King's Party.

The National Citizens Party (NCP), has emerged promising to build the country through inclusive politics of moderation and to come out from family-centric politics.
The leaders and activists of NCP, country's first ever students-youths led political party, pledged to change the traditional political landscape by fighting against corruption, extortion and dynastic rule by major political parties.

The party has been formed by leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination movement that ousted Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government through the July-August Uprising last year.

Meanwhile, analysts believe that the party will face a major challenge inside the organisation with leaders from different ideologies sharing the same character and pursuing the same goal of moderation.

Though the NCP leaders' avowed policy is to fight corruption and abuse of power, in a short span of time the new political party has been facing allegations of corrupt practices including taking patronage and favour from the government and taking money for the party.

Already Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has criticised the requisition of bus by Pirojpur district administration for NCP supporters to join the party's launching meeting in Dhaka on Friday. TIB termed it "contrary to the spirit of the new political settlement" and it added "the interim government cannot dodge responsibility for such abuse of power and immorality at the very birth of NCP."

TIB also called for abandonment of "old authoritarian practices under the banner of Second Republic" by NCP.
A wave of criticism has surfaced on social media alleging that the interim government arranged buses and fund to transport NCP supporters to the party's launching meeting in Dhaka.

The social media is also full of criticism over the overall leadership structure of NCP that reflects broader male-dominated character. It also raised questions on proper representation of minority community.

Meanwhile, leaders of major political parties opposed NCP's declaration of changing the country's constitution and turn Bangladesh as Second Republic.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed vehementally opposed NCP's declaration on 'Second Republic and Constituent Assembly'. He raised questions about the 'motives' behind such declaration.

Another BNP Standing Committee Member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain told the Daily Observer that, "The new political party just proclaimed their proclamation. Just now I do not want to make any comment about them as we are observing why the party has been formed and who are patronising them.

When asked about the Second Republic and NCP's declaration to free country from family-centric politics the BNP senior leader said, "Every political party has its constitution; these are clauses of their political party's constitution. It is the party workers who will decide how their party will run."

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "I was present at NCP's launching meeting on Friday. They spoke very well about the state, but I did not find any political philosophy from their speech."

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna told the Daily Observer that, "Few days ago the party was formed with the leadership of July-August movement. We welcome them to the political field because after a successful movement they now wanted to reform the country."

"I want to remind that, revolution and politics are different, in politics everyone must move forward unitedly on the basis of consensus, calm and thoughtful leadership," he said.

Manna said, "There has already been controversy over their declaration on Second Republic and Constituent Assembly. However, we support their promise to free the country from family-centric politics."

Most of the front line political parties in Bangladesh including BNP are practicing politics of same pattern. That is why people have curiosity about how much this new party can create a position in moderate politics.

The party's senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adeeb told the media that they want to create a positive political culture in the country.

"However, we are not considering issues that conflict with the religious and social values of the people at the moment in the party sphere," he said.

Analysts say that by talking about moderation in politics, the NCP is trying to create space in the political arena.
Ruhin Hossain Prince General Secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh told the Daily Observer that, "To form a political party, ideological issues have to be brought forward. Especially in the party manifesto or constitution, all these ideological issues are highlighted. But I did not find anything like that at the NCP's inauguration event."

"They talked about the Second Republic, Constituent Assembly elections and changing the constitution. I do not consider these are important," he said.

Prince said, "Because in 1971 we liberated the country through the Liberation War we have a constitution, so there is no need for a new constitution. But this constitution needs to be amended."

He said, "There is no such situation in Bangladesh that we need to hold Constituent Assembly elections. We need to bring the country to a stable situation through national elections as soon as possible."

Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad told the Daily Observer that, in the current political context involvement of youth in the politics is very important. From this point I appreciate them for forming a political party, but the way they form their political party disappointed people of the country.

Nur said, "Their one Advisor among the three in the interim government resigns to form the party. People of the country think that the other two are working from behind to form this party."

"Because on the day of their inauguration, they took the help of the Deputy Commissioners (DC) and the car owners' association for cars to bring their supporters from different districts to Dhaka,"

"The parties that are formed in this way are called Kings' Parties. All Kings' Parties in our country have been lost in the whirlwind of time," he said.

Nur said, "If they really want to do politics, they will have to come down from power and do politics among the common people."

When asked NCP has promised to form a Second Republic, change the constitution, and establish a country free from dynastic politics, Nur said, "They said these things to gain acceptance from the people. They themselves know that it will not be possible to keep all their commitments."

Nur said, for the next election, NCP have to get registration from Election Commission and introduce their election symbol to the people. Then their political identity will be created. "Before this, they had hyped up by offering different political promises," he added.