Mir Arshadul Hoque has resigned from all posts and responsibilities of the National Citizen Party, including Central Joint Member Secretary, member of the Executive Council, member of the Media Cell and Discipline Committee, head of the Environment Cell and chief coordinator of Chattogram Metropolitan.
In a statement, he said he has formally quit the NCP and will not contest the Chattogram-16 parliamentary constituency (Banshkhali) on the party’s ticket.
He made the announcement on a significant day when Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to the country after nearly 17 years in exile and extended his welcome to him.
Mir Arshadul Hoque said the NCP began its journey with a promise of a new political settlement inspired by the aspirations of the July mass uprising, but claimed that his experience over the past 10 months showed the party and its leadership had failed to uphold that promise.
He said nothing remained of the dreams and possibilities that led him to join the party and added that he believed the party and a large section of its leadership were on the wrong path, which he could not follow.
Referring to 5 August, 2024, the day he described as the fall and flight of an autocrat, he said he had hoped a new Bangladesh would emerge where minimum rights and human dignity would be ensured but said that had not happened despite the sacrifices made during the July uprising.
He also alleged a growing tendency to create instability, use religion to divide society and stir controversy over the Liberation War, warning that certain groups were pushing the country towards an uncertain future for their own interests.
Hoque said the immediate need was a transition to democracy and the establishment of stability, alongside organising and strengthening politically conscious, progressive young leaders and Bangladesh-oriented political forces.
Citing his long involvement in political activities since his student days at Dhaka University, he said that in the current situation there was no alternative to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its alliance winning a majority under the leadership of Tarique Rahman and forming the government.
He said his personal assessment, based on Tarique Rahman’s activities and statements during and after the July uprising, was that he currently had the capacity to lead the country by accommodating all sections.
Mir Arshadul Hoque urged young people not to be swayed by populism or momentary hype but to support what he described as Tarique Rahman’s people-oriented vision, adding that he was personally extending his full support.
