The National Citizens Party (NCP) has said it is not leaving the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance formed ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. In a report published on August 4, several senior NCP leaders said joint alliance programmes and regular meetings remain under way, and neither the alliance nor the party has discussed an exit. Jamaat and NCP both dismissed reports of an NCP departure as false rumours and fabricated propaganda.

The two parties said efforts were being made to create confusion and divisions while the alliance is conducting street-based movements over implementation of the July Charter, state reform and trials for killings. Alliance coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad said NCP convener Nahid Islam had conveyed the same position to him. NCP leaders said the party wants to strengthen its own organisation while remaining in the alliance, including through July march programmes across the country down to the upazila level.

At a liaison committee meeting last Thursday at the opposition leader’s residence on Minto Road, the alliance decided to hold a major rally in Paltan on August 5 and announce further political programmes there. Discussions also continue over local government elections, with possible alliance-level accommodation still under consideration despite separate city corporation candidates.