Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has reinforced its commitment to a radical reform agenda, insisting that its recent entry into a Jamaat-e-Islami-led electoral alliance will not dilute its core mission of dismantling "fascist" state structures.
Speaking at the launch of the party’s standalone election manifesto in Gulshan on Friday, NCP Convener Nahid Islam addressed growing public debate over the partnership.
He clarified that the 11-party coalition is a "strategic electoral alliance" born of political necessity rather than an ideological merger.
"Aligning with established parties does not mean we have abandoned the dream of a new political settlement," Nahid told a room of supporters and journalists. "This alliance is built on a minimum political consensus to ensure a competitive election, but the NCP remains the torchbearer of the July mass uprising’s original aspirations."
Nahid said the NCP's separate election manifesto reflects the party's continued commitment to building an anti-fascist and discrimination-free Bangladesh.
"By announcing its own manifesto despite being part of a broader alliance, the party has demonstrated that while contesting elections together, alliance partners retain distinct political visions," he said.
Referring to his speech at the Shaheed Minar on August 5, 2024, Nahid said the mass uprising against fascism and five decades of discrimination - from which the NCP emerged - remains the foundation of the party's politics.
"Since forming the alliance, questions have been raised repeatedly. There has been criticism and debate, both for and against. But the struggle and demands for a new political settlement that we started with remain unchanged," he said.
Nahid said that if elected, the NCP would work to implement its manifesto while remaining within the alliance. "Our effort will be to realise our reform demands through this alliance. That is why NCP has announced a separate manifesto, and Jamaat-e-Islami has also released its own."
He also expressed optimism that despite missed opportunities in the past, significant reforms are still possible through a referendum.
Urging people to vote 'Yes', Nahid said, "We have missed many chances, but at this moment there are still strong possibilities. We have secured several reform commitments that can be implemented through a referendum during the election."
The aspiration for a new political settlement, Nahid said, is a long-term struggle for the NCP and will have to be achieved through a sustained political journey.
