Fifteen leaders of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) resigned from the Nakla Upazila Coordination Committee in Sherpur, protesting the appointment of a controversial coordinator accused of corruption and incompetence. The resignations highlight deepening internal rifts within the NCP, a party formed by student leaders after last year’s July protests.
A fresh wave of internal strife has erupted within the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Bangladesh as 15 leaders, including five joint coordinators and 10 other members, collectively resigned from the Nakla Upazila Coordination Committee in Sherpur district. The resignation, announced during a press conference at Nakla Upazila, stems from growing discontent over the appointment of what they described as an “incompetent, unethical, and socially unacceptable” chief coordinator.
According to local reports, the newly formed Nakla Upazila Coordination Committee, which was endorsed on August 10 by NCP’s Central Convening Committee Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, has triggered widespread dissent. The committee named Humayun Kabir Akash as Chief Coordinator, along with 10 Joint Coordinators and 21 members, making up a 32-member body. However, the appointment of Akash as coordinator quickly became a flashpoint of controversy, leading to mass resignations.
Allegations Against the Chief Coordinator
The resigning leaders, in a joint statement, made strong accusations against Akash. “The chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Upazila is an incompetent, unethical, and socially unacceptable person. In this context, after introspective reflection, we are collectively voluntarily resigning from our respective positions in the Upazila Coordination Committee of the National Citizens Party and rejecting the entire committee,” their statement declared.
One of the joint coordinators, Mominul Islam Arab, went further to detail the grievances. Speaking to Jugantor, he alleged that Akash had been accused of taking money from families of individuals killed during last year’s July protests. He also claimed that Akash’s educational qualifications were inadequate for his role, further justifying the collective decision to step down.
“We have five joint coordinators and 10 members who have resigned. The main reason for the resignation is that the main coordinator is an incompetent person. He is accused of taking money from the families of the people killed in last year’s July protests. His educational qualifications are also not good. We have resigned because of these serious allegations,” Arab said.
Party Leadership Responds
The internal shake-up has drawn the attention of the NCP’s higher committees. Alamgir Kabir, the coordinator of NCP’s Sherpur district committee, acknowledged awareness of the resignations, saying he first learned of them through Facebook. “I have also spoken to the divisional committee. The district committee will meet and evaluate the matter, and a further decision will be taken,” Kabir stated.
This incident underscores the challenges faced by the NCP in maintaining internal unity, especially given its relatively new presence in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
Roots of the Conflict
The National Citizen Party was founded earlier this year by Nahid Islam, a controversial student leader of the movement Students Against Discrimination. Islam played a prominent role in last year’s July uprising, which saw widespread protests against the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party.
The student leaders who spearheaded that movement later collaborated with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and other political groups to form the NCP, positioning it as an alternative political force in Bangladesh. However, the party has already faced accusations of disorganization and internal divisions, with the latest resignations further tarnishing its credibility.
Implications for the NCP
The resignation of 15 leaders from one upazila committee may appear to be a local issue, but it raises larger questions about the NCP’s ability to sustain itself as a cohesive political entity. For a party attempting to establish a national footprint, internal discord and allegations of corruption within its committees could weaken its credibility among supporters and rivals alike.
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The controversy surrounding the Nakla committee also exposes the tension between grassroots-level activists and the central leadership of the NCP. If the party leadership fails to address these grievances promptly, it risks a ripple effect that could undermine organizational stability in other districts.
As the Sherpur district committee prepares to evaluate the resignations, the incident has already highlighted the fragility of a party born out of protest movements but still struggling to transform itself into a structured political institution.
