The National Citizen Party (NCP) delegation held a meeting with the Pre-Election Assessment Team from the International Republican Institute (IRI), following an official invitation extended by IRI. The objective of the meeting was to exchange views on Bangladesh’s current political and electoral situation ahead of the forthcoming national elections, according to a press release.
The IRI delegation comprised senior representatives and experts including Christopher J Fussner, member of the IRI Board of Directors; Lisa Curtis, senior fellow and director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS; Jessica Keegan, technical expert on Democratic Elections and Political Processes at IRI; Steve Cima, resident program director at IRI; Jami Spykerman, program director at NDI; John Fluharty, political party and campaign consultant; Darin Bielecki, consultant at IRI; and Amitabha Ghosh, program consultant at IRI.
The NCP delegation was led by Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, Joint Convenor and Lead of the International Relations Cell (IRC), accompanied by Monira Sharmin, Joint Convenor and Member of the IRC; Alauddin Mohammad, Joint Member Secretary and Deputy Lead of the IRC; and Tahsin Riaz, Joint Member Secretary and Member of the IRC.
Discussions took place in a cordial and constructive environment, marked by mutual respect and openness. The dialogue focused on the overall electoral and political developments in the country, particularly regarding the role of the Election Commission and the responsibilities of the government in the ongoing process.
The NCP representatives shared their detailed observations on the present electoral atmosphere, raising specific concerns about procedural matters surrounding the party’s electoral symbol. They also emphasised the importance of transparency, institutional integrity, and accountability as key foundations of a credible democratic process.
Responding to questions from the IRI team, the NCP delegation elaborated on the party’s official stance regarding the “July Charter,” explaining the rationale behind its decision not to sign the document. The representatives reaffirmed that this decision was guided by NCP’s principles of political independence, national interest, and commitment to genuine democratic reform.
The NCP team further presented the party’s reform propositions, focusing on strengthening institutional frameworks, promoting internal democratic practices within political organisations, and fostering public trust through transparency and ethical governance. These reform objectives, as discussed, reflect NCP’s long-term vision of building a responsible and accountable political culture in Bangladesh.
The IRI Pre-Election Assessment Team appreciated the openness and clarity demonstrated by the NCP delegation and acknowledged the importance of continuous dialogue with political parties in assessing the overall democratic environment.
The meeting concluded on a positive and respectful note, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to continued engagement and constructive cooperation in support of Bangladesh’s democratic journey.
