NCP Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam accused the BNP of deceiving people over a referendum and its own 31-point programme while speaking to journalists on Thursday afternoon in Feni. He made the remarks after a district coordination meeting and political workshop at Hotel Golden Palace in Feni town. Sarjis also said the BNP government had become unpopular within six months of taking power, citing rising commodity prices, electricity and fuel shortages, nepotism and partisan practices.

Sarjis said the NCP is and will remain in the 11-party alliance, but will contest the upcoming local government elections independently. He described the polls as an important opportunity to build the party’s organisational base and improve the skills of its organisers. The party plans to nominate candidates at district, upazila, city, municipality and union levels.

He said the NCP may not win everywhere but would fight to win, adding that independent participation would not create problems within the alliance. Sarjis said the alliance maintained cordial relations and planned long marches across the country on various issues in September to seek government accountability. Joint member secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat also criticised the BNP over shortages of gas, petrol and fertiliser.