‘Reflecting on Politics by the Seaside’ — Nasiruddin’s Response to Show Cause Notice

Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief coordinator of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), has submitted a written response to the show cause notice issued by the party concerning his recent trip to Cox’s Bazar.

On Thursday at 4 pm, he published his explanation on his verified Facebook page, addressed to the party’s convener and secretary general.

Nasiruddin Patwari’s Explanation

In his response, Nasiruddin wrote:

“Travelling is not a crime. History is not made solely in meetings; often it is born in moments of solitary reflection, even by the seaside.”

He asserted that he had no prior state or organisational commitments on 5 August, nor was he informed by the party of any duties or plans on that day

Timeline and Communication

Nasiruddin said his mobile phone was stolen during a recent march, explaining why he used Hasnat’s colleague’s phone.

Purpose of the Trip

Nasiruddin described the purpose of the trip as:

“The intention was to contemplate the future political direction privately. Sitting by the seaside, I wished to reflect deeply on the people’s uprising, the citizen committee, the structure of the Citizens’ Party, the prospective people’s council, and the outline of a new democratic constitution.”

He maintained that this was no crime but rather a responsible mental exercise for a political activist.

Addressing False Rumours

During the trip, a rumour unexpectedly spread claiming they had met former US Ambassador Peter Haas in Cox’s Bazar.

Nasiruddin promptly denounced this as:

“Completely false and a deliberately orchestrated defamation.”

He elaborated:

“The hotel management confirmed no one by the name Peter Haas was present. Later, multiple sources confirmed that he was in Washington at the time. This rumour is a planned conspiracy to tarnish our reputation.”

He added that he had previously stayed at the same hotel without any controversy.

Defence Against Allegations

Claiming innocence, Nasiruddin stated:

“I have travelled several times before. But I have never received any message from the party stating that travelling would violate party rules.”

He concluded his response with:

“The show cause notice is not based on facts. My trip was transparent, not against organisational policies, and purely a chance for personal reflection. Nevertheless, out of respect for party discipline and political decorum, I submit this written reply — a symbol of civility in an uncivil world.

Party’s Action and Context

Alongside Nasiruddin Patwari, four other leaders — Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Tasnim Zara, and Khaled Saifullah — were also issued show cause notices by the NCP over the Cox’s Bazar trip.

Copies of their respective notices have been published on the party’s verified Facebook page.

Summary Table of Key Points

This incident highlights internal tensions within the National Citizens’ Party regarding discipline and the balance between personal reflection and organisational responsibility.