30 National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders have sent a letter to the party’s convener, Nahid Islam, objecting to a prospective alliance the party might be forming with Jamaat-e-Islami.
The letter, sent on Saturday, states that the leaders “object to the recent discussions that have emerged regarding the possibility of a political alliance or seat-sharing arrangement with the 8-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami,” adding that the basis for their objection lies in the contradictory ideals of the two parties.
It goes on to say that Jamaat’s “role against independence during the Liberation War of 1971, its complicity in genocide, and its position on the various crimes committed at that time” are inherently contradictory to the democratic ideals of both Bangladesh and the NCP.
Referring to Jamaat’s ideology centring Islam, the letter adds, “Above all, the ominous sign for the country’s future posed by the rise of social fascism centered on religion – all these have become a cause for alarm.”
Saying that the party convener has exposed Jamaat’s “duplicity” before and recently sold nearly 1,500 nomination papers among which 125 candidates were selected, the letters states that forming such an alliance would amount to “betrayal of the nation.”
“Such an alliance will create confusion and disillusionment among many of our workers, supporters, and especially the younger generation,” the letter goes on to say, adding that a large number of people have already withdrawn their support of the NCP due to the news of the potential alliance with Jamaat.
One of the signatories of the letter confirmed the matter to TIMES of Bangladesh on condition of anonymity. Among the signatories were NCP Joint Convener Khaled Saifullah and Organizer for the southern region Asad bin Rony.
The full list of 30 leaders to have signed the letter can be seen here.
