More than 500 former leaders and activists of the BNP and its student wing joined the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) in Hatiya, Noakhali, on Saturday evening. The joining ceremony took place at the NCP’s upazila office, where the new members formally joined by placing their hands in those of Abdul Hannan Masud, the ten-party alliance candidate. Among the new entrants were former municipal Chhatra Dal convener Mohibubur Rahman, Jahajmara Union Chhatra Dal president Abdul Hannan, and several other former leaders from different BNP-affiliated bodies.

At a press conference, Abdul Hannan Masud stated that anyone except those involved in terrorism or extortion could join the NCP. He said leaders from various unions were contacting them daily, and the party had already recruited many individually. Masud added that under the leadership of 17 former BNP and affiliated leaders, over 500 activists had joined the NCP, expressing his goal of building a terrorism- and extortion-free Hatiya.

The event marked the beginning of what Masud described as a continuing wave of new memberships from different political backgrounds in the region.