The Pak Global Pakistan:
Dhaka, Bangladesh – Ruhul Amin, a young voter disillusioned with Bangladesh’s traditional parties, found hope when the National Citizen Party (NCP) emerged from the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted longtime leader Sheikh Hasina. The NCP, launched in February 2025, promised to be a credible third force in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with leaders confident of broad public support and future government prospects.
However, the reality of electoral politics proved challenging. Despite the uprising’s momentum, the NCP struggled to build a grassroots organization capable of contesting the February 12 parliamentary election independently. Opinion polls showed their support in the low single digits. Ultimately, the NCP entered a coalition with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party, contesting 30 of 300 seats and securing six. The election was dominated by a coalition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which won 212 seats, while the Jamaat alliance took 77.
Despite the modest electoral success, Amin remains optimistic. “We did well this election as a new party,” he said from Kushtia district, “We have only begun. In the next few election cycles, the NCP will emerge as the new big thing.”
Several NCP leaders who gained prominence during the uprising now hold parliamentary seats, marking a breakthrough for the young party. Yet critics highlight the difficulties of transforming a protest movement into a stable political force.
NCP spokesman Asif Mahmud described the election results as encouraging for an 11-month-old party. While acknowledging some lost opportunities, he pointed to alleged vote irregularities and emphasized the necessity of alliances for political survival. The coalition with Jamaat, however, has sparked controversy within the NCP. Jamaat’s conservative stance and historical advocacy for Islamic law clash with the inclusive, secular values that inspired the 2024 uprising.
Following the alliance announcement, over a dozen senior NCP leaders resigned, citing ideological incompatibility and concerns over damaging the party’s credibility. Mahmud defended the partnership as purely electoral, not a political merger, and maintained that the NCP’s positions remain distinct from Jamaat’s.
As Bangladesh’s political landscape evolves, the NCP’s journey highlights both the potential and pitfalls facing new parties emerging from grassroots movements.