United News of Bangladesh

National Citizens Party (NCP) wants to form an alliance with those who independently support reforms and oppose Indian hegemony, said party’s chief coordinator for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday (11th November 2025). Speaking at the inauguration of the Narayanganj district office of the NCP at the Somobay Building in the city, Hasnat said, “We are ready to join hands with those who independently stand for reforms.” “We can form alliances with those who support reforms, stand for Bangladesh, oppose Indian dominance, and uphold communal harmony,” he added. Hasnat, however, made it clear that the NCP would not align with any group or party that has opposed reforms or obstructed the country’s reform process. “The NCP has always made sacrifices in the greater interest of the nation,” he said. Cocktail explosion near NCP office in Banglamotor, 5 detained Calling the Awami League “irrelevant” in today’s Bangladesh, Hasnat remarked, “The Awami League has become irrelevant now. We need to look ahead. But we’ve seen that some paid intellectuals and beneficiaries of the Awami League have tried to generate legitimacy for the party through talk shows.” He said recent events have made it clear who were behind the acts of arson both in the past and the present. “The fall of the Awami League did not come through ballots; it came through a mass uprising. When a party falls through a popular uprising, it loses its political relevance. Those who are now trying to restore the Awami League’s legitimacy through ballots are, in fact, legitimising arson terrorism. That’s why unity among all anti-fascist political forces is the only way forward,” the NCP leader added. Read more: NCP’s candidate list on Nov 15; likely to skip Khaleda’s constituencies

A series of cocktail explosions took place in front of the National Citizen Party (NCP) office at Banglamotor around 11pm on Monday night. According to witnesses, a group of miscreants threw five cocktails near the NCP office of which one did not explode. As the attackers tried to flee on motorcycles, NCP leaders and activists chased and caught two of them on the spot. NCP ready for both ‘ballot and bullet’ revolution: Nasiruddin Patwary Three more suspects were later detained. All five detainees were handed over to police for further investigation. The incident was confirmed in a statement signed by Mushfiq Us Salehin, Joint Member Secretary and Secretary of the Media Cell of the National Citizen Party (NCP).    

The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) has started selling nomination forms for aspiring candidates ahead of the 13th national election, with each form priced at Tk 10,000. Announcing the initiative at a press briefing on Thursday evening, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said that freedom fighters and candidates from low-income backgrounds will be able to purchase the forms at a reduced rate of Tk 2,000. “To apply, individuals must hold primary membership of the NCP and provide their personal details, political background, and ideological statement when submitting the form,” Patwary said. He said the sale of nomination forms will continue until November 13, while the party’s preliminary list of candidates is scheduled to be released on November 15. Dr Tasnim Jara, Secretary of the NCP Central Election Committee, said nomination forms are available through three channels — the party’s central office, its online portal and from the two chief organisers or the organisational secretary.

National Citizens’ Party (NCP) on Wednesday clarified that it has not held any discussions or reached any decisions with any political party regarding seat-sharing or participation in any cabinet. In a statement, the NCP refuted a report published in a national daily claiming that the party ‘wants 20 seats from BNP and also a share in the cabinet’, describing it as false and misleading. “The news regarding seat-sharing with BNP and demands for cabinet positions is entirely baseless and deliberately fabricated,” the statement said. The party reiterated that it has never engaged in any alliance, seat-sharing negotiations, or power-sharing discussions with any political party and no such proposal has ever been approved by the party’s policy-making council. Clarifying its stance, the NCP said, “We once again make it clear that NCP has not demanded any seats or cabinet participation from any party. We remain committed to building a Bangladesh-oriented, responsible, and independent political force that earns the trust of the people.” NCP’s candidate list on Nov 15; likely to skip Khaleda’s constituencies The party emphasised that its vision for the country’s future politics is rooted in citizens’ rights, accountability, reforms, and democratic reconstruction. It is actively preparing its organisational structure and conducting candidate vetting nationwide in line with this mission. The NCP also called on the national daily to publicly apologise and publish a correction, noting that the so-called ‘sources’ cited in the report were purely speculative, misleading the public and harming the party’s reputation.  

National Citizen Party (NCP) is unlikely to field candidates in the three constituencies where BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to contest in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, said party Convener Nahid Islam. “We may not nominate any candidate out of respect for those, including Khaleda Zia, who played a role in the country’s July movements,” Nahid told reporters on Wednesday while visiting the family of late freedom fighter Gazi Salahuddin in Godnail, Narayanganj. Read more: NCP to field candidates in all 300 seats: Nahid Nahid said the NCP’s preliminary list of candidates will be announced by November 15, as the party is preparing to contest the election independently and has already completed groundwork to nominate candidates in all other constituencies. “In today’s politics, those with muscle power, black money, and local godfather influence dominate elections. But the NCP will challenge that toxic culture,” Nahid said, emphasising that his party wants honest, hardworking individuals to represent ordinary citizens in Parliament. Regarding possible alliances, Nahid said any coalition would have to be based on ideological alignment. “If any party supports our reform proposals under the July Charter, we may consider forming an alliance,” he added. Read more: Abbas fears interim govt may use illegal means to secure win for Jamaat, NCP

The National Citizen Party (NCP) will contest the upcoming national election with the 'Shapla Kali' symbol and plans to field candidates in all 300 constituencies, said its convener Nahid Islam. In a video message to the nation on Tuesday (4th November 2025) night, Nahid said the party expects to finalise its list of candidates within November. “We have submitted all necessary documents to the Election Commission in June for registration, but the commission delayed in approving our desired symbol ‘Shapla’,” he said. “After months of back-and-forth with the Election Commission, NCP finally obtained the ‘Shapla Kali’ symbol,” he added. Read more: NCP among three parties set to get EC’s registration Nahid said the party has continued working for the people throughout the period, reaching out to communities through its July campaign and gaining strong public response. “We’ve built public opinion across the country in favour of reform and continue to speak for justice,” he said. Confirming preparations for the parliamentary election expected in February, Nahid said, “We are ready for the election. Inshallah, we’ll field candidates in all 300 seats under the ‘Shapla Kali’ symbol.” Calling upon new faces to join the party, Nahid said NCP welcomes everyone who wishes to engage in honest politics and rebuild Bangladesh. Read more: Abbas fears interim govt may use illegal means to secure win for Jamaat, NCP “We will nominate competent, honest, and patriotic candidates in every constituency,” he said, expressing hope that the public support the party has earned will be reflected in the election results.

Chief Organiser (North) of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Sarjis Alam has warned that if the Election Commission (EC) turns into a partisan body like before, it will face the same fate as its predecessors. “We want the EC to maintain the constitutional status of the institution in a highly impartial, fair, and independent manner,” he said. The NCP leader made the remarks at a press conference following a meeting with the conveners and member secretaries of four districts under the Mymensingh division, held at a hotel in the city on Monday evening. Sarjis Alam said those “murderers who ordered the killing of more than a thousand people during the July uprising, as well as those involved in the genocide, BDR massacre, Shapla Chattar killings, and incidents of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, cannot participate in any democratic election in Bangladesh.” He added that the Awami League and its ally Jatiya Party “have no moral right to contest the next election.” Regarding the party’s electoral symbol, Sarjis Alam said the NCP will contest the polls with the symbol ‘Shapla Koli’ (water lily bud). “However, we will continue to call upon the EC to act neutrally. If they behave in the same way as before, it will create a serious crisis of confidence,” he warned. The party’s senior joint member secretary Nahida Sarwar Nibha, divisional organizing secretary Ashiqin Alam, and other local leaders were also present at the event.    

National Citizens Party (NCP) has finally agreed to accept ‘Water Lily Bud’ (Shapla Koli) instead of ‘Water Lily’ as its electoral symbol during its registration as a new political party. "We’re taking Shapla Koli....But we’ve not yet received an explanation as to why Water Lily will not be given (to us)," said NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary after a meeting between his party’s delegation and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on Sunday. To accept Water Lily Bud as its symbol, NCP also submitted a letter before the Election Commission bringing change to its desired symbols – Water Lily, White Water Lily and Red Water Lily-- by incorporating Water Lily Bud to replace Red Water Lily. Noting that the EC has added several new symbols including Shapla Koli in the list of symbols, Patwary explained that now the order of NCP’s preference for symbols is – (First) Water-lily, (Second) White Water Lily (Second) and (Third) Water Lily Bud. “They’ve received a positive response among the people about Water Lily in the overall situation of the country,” he said. NCP accuses Asif Nazrul of political biasness over amendment issue The NCP said they call on NCP leaders and activists as well as the people of Bangladesh, who want to be candidates in all three hundred constituencies, to prepare for the election. He said the Water Lily Bud will be a major fighting symbol against larger parties such as BNP and Jamaat. “Water Lily is already established among the people; now the bud has joined Water Lily,” he said. Criticising the EC, the NCP leader said the Commission has been moving slowly while election festivity has already started in the country. “We want to enter the election phase and the February election to be held fairly. We also want to participate in it,” he added. NCP insists on ‘Shapla’ symbol, rejects ‘Shapla Kali’ He urged the commission to complete the NCP’s registration process quickly so the party can go to the field with its symbol. “Inshallah, in the future there will be a neck-and-neck contest between ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ (BNP’s electoral symbol) and ‘Water Lily Bud’ (NCP’s possible electoral symbol).” On October 30 last, the EC released a revised list of 119 electoral symbols, incorporating ‘Water Lily Bud’ (Shapla Koli). According to the revised schedule, 20 new symbols have been added to the list, while 16 old ones have been dropped. Later on the day, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed clarified that there is a difference between the ‘Water Lily’ symbol sought by NCP and the newly incorporated ‘Water Lily Bud’ (Shapla Koli) in the revised list of 119 electoral symbols. Two other NCP delegation members are its joint convener Khaled Saifullah and its joint member secretary Jahirul Islam Musa. NCP may form alliance based on commitment: Sarjis Replying to a question whether the NCP would form an electoral alliance, Nasiruddin Patwary said his party will neither accompany Jamaat nor BNP as Jamaat promotes religious fascism, while BNP carries out extortion and violence. "We want there to be no terrorism, extortion, or corruption in the future parliament. There should also be no religious fascism either," he said. About the referendum, the NCP leader said BNP and Jamaat are currently in a confrontation over the issue. He asked both the parties to avoid confrontation otherwise it may derail the electoral timetable or delay the election. “We would like to urge the two parties not to try to delay the election and avoid bad-debate over the timing of the referendum,” the NCP leader added.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organizer (South) Hasnat Abdullah has said that the election must be held in February and that only those seeking to create a confrontation between the government and the July Charter want to delay it. “If reforms are not implemented, how will the election take place? If this government does not have the mandate for reforms or for declaring the July Charter following the mass uprising, then under what mandate will it hold the election? I want to see that,” said Hasnat. The NCP leader came up with the information while talking to reporters at a press briefing after a coordination meeting aimed at strengthening the party’s activities at the Bhola Zila Parishad auditorium on Sunday afternoon. “Those who oppose the July Charter must explain which direction they want to take Bangladesh in and what kind of preparation they are making. The people will soon understand their motives. We will ally only with those who support reform and are committed to addressing the constitutional weaknesses that led to the events of 2024.” Reiterating the need for reforms before the polls, Hasnat said, “The reform process must be completed properly and the election must be held in February.” The reform order must be issued through a public mandate and it has to be signed by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, he said adding “But we can see that one party wants the President to sign this order. If we have to get the July document signed by him, it is better for all of us to drown in the river.” NCP Bhola District Chief Coordinator Mehedi Hasan Sharif presided over the meeting. Central, district, and union-level NCP leaders were also present.

National Citizen Party (NCP) has accused Law Adviser Asif Nazrul of assuring a particular political party of advantages regarding the proposed amendment to Article 20 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972. The NCP raised the allegation in a letter signed by its Member Secretary Akhter Hossen and sent to the Law Adviser on Sunday, seeking the government’s official stance on the matter. The NCP letter says, “Recent discussions surrounding the amendment to Article 20 of the RPO, 1972 have raised serious questions about your personal assurance and position favouring a specific political party. We respectfully remind you that as an adviser, you are a neutral legal counsellor of the state, not a representative of any political party.” Offering assurance to one party regarding an electoral law amendment contradicts the neutrality and accountability expected from advisers of the post-July Uprising interim government, the letter says. NCP insists on ‘Shapla’ symbol, rejects ‘Shapla Kali’ “It must be remembered that amending such a law is not a unilateral decision—it is an institutional, consultative and public interest-driven process. Any commitment that signals alignment with a single party’s demand undermines public confidence in the administration and questions the impartiality of the interim government,” the letter reads. The NCP also criticised the Law Adviser’s position, saying it runs counter to the views of the Election Reform Commission and the Election Commission. Highlighting its stance, the party argued that the purpose of the political party registration system is to ensure internal democracy, financial transparency and ideological stability. “When a registered party contests under another’s symbol, it effectively escapes its own accountability. This creates a legal inconsistency and weakens the regulatory authority of the Election Commission,” the letter mentions. The NCP added that when multiple registered parties contest under the symbol of a larger party, voters are left confused about whom they are actually voting for. “This practice breaks the link between voters and political accountability,” the letter says. NCP symbol to be allocated by EC if it fails to pick one: Akhtar Ahmed The letter also warned that such practices create “artificial pluralism,” enabling dominant political forces to sponsor smaller “proxy parties” that later echo their views in Parliament and committees. “This undermines genuine diversity of opinion and distorts the process of building national consensus,” it read. Endorsing the position of the Election Reform Commission and the Election Commission, the NCP reiterated that Article 20 of the RPO should be amended to explicitly prohibit any registered political party from contesting under another party’s election symbol. “If joint nominations or alliance-based candidacies are necessary, the concerned parties should formally unite and register as a single new political entity with the Election Commission,” the party suggests. The NCP argues that such reform would not restrict political pluralism but rather strengthen genuine democratic diversity. “It will ensure every party takes responsibility for its own name, policy, and leadership — a prerequisite for protecting voters’ rights, state transparency, and constitutional balance,” the letter says. Akhter Hossen urged the Law Adviser to clarify the government’s official position on both issues mentioned in the letter.