In a swift blow to the National Citizen Party (NCP), Md Abdur Rahman, a prominent central organiser for the southern region, has formally resigned from all organizational roles, alleging that the party has fundamentally strayed from its founding principles. Rahman officially tendered his resignation letter to the NCP convener on Friday, 16 October, later sharing the document on his personal Facebook profile to confirm his departure.
In his statement, Rahman voiced deep disillusionment with the party’s trajectory, asserting that pre- and post-election political alliances have triggered an ideological shift within the ranks. He claimed that the influence and ideology of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—a party historically opposed to the country’s independence—have infiltrated the party structure, spanning from central management down to ward-level units.
Reflecting on his joining, Rahman noted that he engaged with the NCP through the National Citizen Committee following the student-led Anti-Discrimination Movement, driven by the vision of a “New Bangladesh.” The promise of a pluralistic democratic order and a fresh political settlement originally attracted him to the platform. However, the operational reality soon shattered those expectations. He highlighted his initial hope that temporary electoral agreements would remain purely political, rather than transforming into an ideological merger. Instead, he observed that the line between strategic alliance and ideological convergence with Jamaat-e-Islami became increasingly blurred, fostering hypocrisy within the party and prompting several talented founding members to exit.
Rahman further condemned the party culture, recounting instances where expressing independent views on national history led to him being branded a “Mujibist”—a tag he considers contrary to free expression and democratic debate. He stressed that the history of Bangladesh’s liberation must be distinguished from the governance records of post-independence political parties, arguing that the NCP’s current stance on liberation history increasingly mirrors Jamaat-Shibir rhetoric, thereby eroding its distinct political identity.
Before joining the NCP, Rahman was involved with the Chhatra League—the student wing currently banned in Bangladesh. He served as an elected member of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) for Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall in 2019 and joined the central executive committee of the Chhatra League in 2022. Despite his previous political background, he actively participated in the July 2024 mass uprising, leading to his subsequent role in the NCP and initial inclusion in their candidate pool for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. His nomination was ultimately sidelined following the NCP’s coalition arrangement with Jamaat.
Concluding his statement, Rahman requested the immediate acceptance of his resignation, concluding that his ethical principles no longer align with the NCP, though he expressed hope that the party might still contribute constructively to the nation’s democratic future.
