Former interim government adviser Mahfuz Alam announced on Sunday that he will not contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election under the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance or the National Citizens Party (NCP). In a verified Facebook post, he clarified his political stance, stating that although he had advised and supported the NCP and Citizens Committee over the past year and a half, he would not be part of the alliance. Alam explained that he had tried to establish the NCP as an independent platform under a broader 'Big July' umbrella but was unable to do so for various reasons. He emphasized that his respect and friendship with his July colleagues remain intact, but maintaining his long-standing political position is more important than contesting a seat in Dhaka under the Jamaat-NCP alliance. He further wrote that Bangladesh is currently in a “cold war” phase and that it is better to remain steadfast in one’s principles without taking sides. Alam reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing political, cultural, and intellectual efforts toward a new political-economic framework and the rise of alternative youth forces.