NCP Leans Towards BNP for Seat Sharing, Seeks 20 Seats and Cabinet Posts
The Jatiya Nagarik Party (NCP) is currently leaning heavily towards the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) regarding potential seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election. The party is engaged in unofficial communication and discussions with the BNP.
Sources from both parties indicate that the NCP aims to reach a consensus with the BNP on at least 20 constituencies, including 4 in Dhaka, for the 13th National Election. Furthermore, the party is seeking a share in the cabinet if the BNP comes to power.
The Nature of Negotiations
All proposals, demands, and discussions are currently informal. However, the NCP’s final decision—whether to ally with the BNP, form a coalition with another party, or contest the election alone—remains open. It is also known that some important NCP leaders are maintaining personal contact with Jamaat-e-Islami.
A BNP source revealed that NCP leaders are seeking not only seat adjustments but also an assurance regarding their future security if the BNP forms the government. They have informally raised the possibility of three NCP members being appointed ministers. The BNP has not yet given a clear commitment on this.
Seat Demands and Communication
Interviews with four key NCP policymakers and several informed BNP leaders confirmed the details of the unofficial talks:
• Seat Target: The NCP is pushing for a compromise with the BNP on at least 20 seats, including 4 in Dhaka.
• BNP Strategy: Even though the BNP has announced candidates for many of these seats, unofficial communication is ongoing. If an understanding is reached, the BNP would withdraw its candidates from the respective constituencies.
• BNP’s Preference: The BNP does not want the NCP to enter into any electoral alliance or understanding with Jamaat-e-Islami.
Some sources close to the NCP suggest that Jamaat-e-Islami is also interested in the NCP and may offer more concessions than the BNP. However, some key NCP policymakers prefer that the new party avoids the label of ‘right-wing’ and seeks to be recognized as a centrist political entity.
NCP’s Organizational Preparation
On November 2nd, NCP Convener Nahid Islam commented on potential alliances, saying, “If we need to unite or enter into any kind of understanding with parties whose fundamental demands are close to ours, we will keep that under consideration.”
The NCP formed its ‘Central Election Management Committee’ on Tuesday, November 4th, ahead of the 13th National Election. Nassiruddin Patwari, the Chief Coordinator, was made the head, and Tasnim Zara, Senior Joint Member Secretary, was named Secretary.
Key Potential NCP Candidates
NCP leaders have indicated their interest in contesting the following seats:
Nahid Islam (Convener): Dhaka-11
Akhtar Hossain (Member): Rangpur-4
Nassiruddin Patwari (Chief Coordinator) :Dhaka-18 or Chandpur-5
Tasnim Zara: Dhaka-9
Ariful Islam Adib: Dhaka-14
Sarjis Alam (North Region ): Panchagarh-1
Hasnat Abdullah : Cumilla-4
Abdul Hannan Masud: Noakhali-6
The BNP has only left the Dhaka-11 and Dhaka-18 seats vacant among the ones listed above.
Role of Government Advisors
Government advisors Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, who are student representatives in the current interim government, are reportedly influencing the NCP’s decisions, though they are not directly involved in party politics.
• Asif Mahmud: If a consensus is reached with the BNP, Asif Mahmud is reportedly interested in resigning from the government and contesting the Dhaka-10 seat (either as an NCP nominee or independently).
• Mahfuz Alam: He is interested in contesting the Lakshmipur-1 seat.
The BNP has kept both the Dhaka-10 and Lakshmipur-1 seats vacant. However, it is not confirmed if this is specifically for these two advisors. It is known that Bangladesh LDP Chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim has received a “green signal” from the BNP as the alliance candidate for Lakshmipur-1.
Backup Plan: Contesting Alone
Alongside alliance discussions, the NCP is also preparing its own candidate list, with a partial list expected to be published next week.
The NCP assesses that the party has a strong position in four to five constituencies. In some of these, like Noakhali-6 and Kurigram-2, Jamaat-e-Islami might support the NCP candidates.
The party’s Joint Convener, Monira Sharmin, stated:
“The NCP is not currently thinking about an electoral alliance. We are in regular informal contact with various political parties. We are observing. We are using the electoral atmosphere to enhance our organizational dynamism… For now, we want to contest individually. We will have to wait until the election schedule is announced or the final moment to see if any alliance or compromise happens.”
