Development worker Dr. Tasnim Jara has resigned from her position as the senior joint secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), dealing a fresh blow to the fledgling party amid growing internal dissent over rumored seat-sharing talks with Jamaat-e-Islami.
Jara confirmed her departure to The Daily Star on the evening of December 27, hours after announcing on her verified Facebook page that she would contest the upcoming parliamentary election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-9 constituency.
Her resignation comes as 30 senior NCP leaders formally urged party convener Nahid Islam not to forge any alliance with Jamaat, citing the Islamist party’s controversial role in 1971 and its recent divisive activities.
The deepening crisis highlights fractures within the NCPโa party formed in February 2025 with alleged backing from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and enjoying significant privileges since the August 2024 regime changeโthreatening its cohesion ahead of the February 12 polls.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Mushfiqus Salehin confirmed that Jara submitted her resignation letter directly to Nahid Islam. Salehin, one of the signatories to the anti-Jamaat memorandum, described the move as reflective of broader unease within the party over strategic direction.
30 NCP Leaders Warn Against Jamaat Tie-Up
In a memorandum submitted on December 27, thirty NCP leadersโincluding Joint Secretary Mushfiq Us Salehin, Central Organiser Arman Hossain, and Joint Convenor Khaled Saifullahโvoiced “strong objection” to any potential coalition or seat-sharing with Jamaat-e-Islami.
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They argued that Jamaat’s opposition to Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, alleged collaboration in atrocities, and ongoing promotion of religious intolerance fundamentally clash with the NCP’s founding principles of democracy, human rights, gender equality, minority protection, and secularism.
The leaders accused Jamaat of recent interference in other parties, spreading misinformation, targeting female NCP members and student activists, and fostering social division. “Aligning with Jamaat for a few seats could create confusion among supporters and erode trust,” the memorandum stated, warning that such a move would damage the party’s credibility among youth and reform-minded citizens who propelled the 2024 uprising.
They urged Nahid Islam to prioritise ethical considerations over short-term tactical gains, emphasising that the NCP, born from a “democratic and popular movement,” has a duty to uphold progressive values. The signatories called for internal discipline while respecting principled differences to preserve party unity.
The memorandum follows persistent reports of active negotiations between NCP and Jamaat representatives, despite official denials from both sides. Sources within the uprising circle confirmed that meetings occurred earlier in the week, with an influential NCP leader admitting the party “cannot contest alone” and is exploring multiple alliance options, including with Jamaat.
Abdul Kader, a key coordinator of the 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, lambasted the rumoured deal in a December 25 Facebook post, accusing a “small group” of NCP leaders of sacrificing youth aspirations for personal ambition. He claimed the NCP initially demanded 50 seats from Jamaat, later bargaining down to 30, in exchange for supporting Jamaat candidates in the remaining 270 constituencies and not fielding rivals. Kader, whose former colleagues include Nahid Islam, warned that the arrangement would effectively “merge” the NCP into Jamaat and “bury the future of youth-driven politics.”
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The controversy has already triggered resignations beyond Jara’s. On December 26, NCP joint member-secretary Mir Arshadul Haque stepped down, citing the party’s drift from its original reform agenda.
Ripple Effects on Jamaat’s Islamist Coalition
The potential NCP-Jamaat linkage is also straining Jamaat’s existing eight-party Islamist bloc. Sources report growing discontent, particularly from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, led by Maulana Mamunul Haque, which is considering withdrawal over delays in seat distribution and opposition to prioritising the NCP. Jamaat is reportedly seeking 180-200 seats, while allies like Islami Andolan Bangladesh demand around 120 and Khilafat Majlis at least 30.
Recent coalition meetings, including one on December 24, focused on the risks of diluting the bloc’s religious vote consolidation by accommodating the secular-leaning NCP. Khilafat Majlis leaders have stressed that the alliance’s core purpose was to unify Islamist forces, not solely advance Jamaat’s dominance.
The NCP, widely criticised as a “US deep state-funded” entity, formed on February 28, 2025, under Yunus’s direct patronage, has already announced candidates in over 125 seats under the Shapla Koli symbol.
It launched the Gonotantrik Songskar Jote on December 7 with allies like Amar Bangladesh Party and Rastro Songskar Andolon. However, insiders say the party is aggressively pursuing larger coalitions to secure a significant parliamentary presence, with internal discussions even floating post-election scenarios such as Nahid Islam becoming prime minister or opposition leader.
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