NCP’s only goal is to win, form govt

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam yesterday said the party’s sole objective now is to win the upcoming national election and form the government.

“We want the polls to be held on February 12 at any cost. Our only agenda is to win and form the government,” he said while launching the party’s campaign in the Dhaka University area.

The electioneering began with tributes to three national leaders at Tin Netar Mazar and prayers at the grave of slain Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi on the DU campus.

Nahid urged people across Bangladesh to support candidates of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 10-party alliance and the NCP, whose electoral symbol is Shapla Koli (waterlily bud).

He also raised concerns over the neutrality of the Election Commission.

“We are seeing that a particular party is being given special privileges. Even before the official campaign started, they had been campaigning nonetheless. To remain neutral, the commission must behave impartially,” he said.

Despite what he described as challenges, Nahid reaffirmed the party’s commitment to remain in the race.

As part of the day’s activities, NCP Chief Coordinator and Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwary said, party leaders visited the graves of the three national leaders, organised a parade, and held a march for justice in the capital.

After the prayers, Nahid and other candidates for Dhaka constituencies marched to the National Press Club.

Nahid, who is contesting from Dhaka-11, said the election marks Bangladesh’s return to the ballot after 16 years.

“During this period, people were denied their right to vote. We are reclaiming that right today, honouring the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs. This time, we will vote ‘yes’ for reform. We aim to win and implement our promises of structural and constitutional change within parliament,” he said.

In the afternoon, Nahid joined the election campaign of the Jamaat-led 10-party alliance at Mirpur-10 Adarsha High School field.

At the event, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman handed over the joint electoral symbol, Dari Palla–Shapla Koli, to Nahid and urged Dhaka-11 voters to support him by voting for the symbol of justice.

Nahid described Shafiqur as a courageous leader and recalled the persecution and imprisonment he faced in the anti-government movement during the Awami League’s tenure.

Criticising BNP’s pledge to introduce Family Cards if elected, Nahid said, “We want the cards to reach the real beneficiaries. But will they? If a Tk 2,000 card requires Tk 1,000 as a bribe, what is the advantage?

“If bribery and extortion are not eliminated, these benefits will never reach the people. On the one hand, the party [BNP] promises to distribute cards, but on the other, it is trying to bring loan defaulters into parliament. If the intention is truly to serve the people, no loan defaulter should be nominated.”