What is happening in Jamaat-NCP? Cracked alliance or a bargaining tactic?

When top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami were on the Dhaka-Khulna long march, the prime leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) were not seen there. Yet in the previous long marches of the 11-party alliance, they had been together. So does it imply any cracks in the alliance—this question is circulating now in the political arena.

However, leaders of the two parties, who formed an alliance before last February's national election, are not saying now that the alliance is breaking apart. But in the announcement of rival candidates in the Dhaka City Corporation and other local elections, a hint of a somewhat cold relationship is being sensed in the words of the leaders of the two parties.

But whether this distance is a prelude to a break in the alliance, or a tactic of bargaining with Jamaat by strengthening their own position in the upcoming city elections—this matter is now being discussed in the political arena.

Although they walked together after forming an alliance and participating in the parliamentary election, indications are already being found of growing distance between Jamaat and NCP ahead of the local government elections. Especially on the question of announcing mayoral candidates for Dhaka North and South City Corporations and alliance-based understanding in the elections, disagreement has arisen between the two parties.

After the exchange of statements by the leaders and activists of the two parties in various places, from social media to political rallies, the absence of NCP's top leaders at the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march on Saturday, has added wind to the sails of discussion.

The day before the long march, last Friday, the NCP held a rally at Shahbagh in Dhaka. At that program, the party's convener, Nahid Islam, presented their position in favor of participating separately in the local government elections. At the same time, he announced the names of Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Nasiruddin Patwary as mayoral candidates for Dhaka North and South City Corporations respectively. Throughout the rally, the party gave an indication of highlighting its own independent political identity and organizational capability in the election field, even though it is part of the alliance.

At that rally, Asif Mahmud also criticized Jamaat's candidate's post-election behavior in the by-election for Thakurgaon-1 constituency. In his speech, the question of compromise over the election came up. This position of the NCP regarding Jamaat's allegations surrounding the Thakurgaon election and the subsequent sweets-sharing incident adds a new dimension to the political statements of the two parties.

Speaking to NCP leaders, the party of the young people who led the July uprising, it is learned that ahead of the local government elections, they want to highlight their party identity and their own organizational strength for the time being. For this reason, although they are in the 11-party alliance, a decision has been made not to participate as actively as before in programs led by Jamaat.

NCP for not taking Jamaat's organizational cooperation now

There is also discussion within the NCP about not taking Jamaat's organizational cooperation in its own programs. At the same time, the party is planning to advance preparations at the grassroots level with its own candidates in the local government elections.

The next day, the matter became more visible at the 11-party alliance's Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march. At the opening rally of the long march at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital, none of the top leaders of the NCP, including its convener Nahid Islam and member-secretary Akhtar Hossain, were seen.

Although top-level NCP leaders had an active presence in the previous two long marches, this time their participation was comparatively limited. Later, however, some NCP leaders joined the long march convoy.

The mayoral candidates for Dhaka North and South City Corporations have emerged as one of the biggest reasons for the distance between Jamaat and the NCP.

On September 13, NCP convener Nahid Islam officially announced the names of Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan for Dhaka North and Nasiruddin Patwary for the South. On the other hand, Jamaat has decided to field the party's North Amir, Mohammad Selim Uddin, in Dhaka North and DUCSU VP Abu Sadik Kayem in the South. Both parties are preparing to enter the field with their own candidates in the two important cities of the capital.

This has created a situation of potential rivalry between the two parties of the same alliance. In particular, the NCP wants to contest at least one city in Dhaka with the alliance's support. Alliance-related sources have also said that informal discussions have taken place between the leaders of the two parties on this.

However, Jamaat is firm in its position of keeping its own candidates in both cities according to its organizational decision. Not only Dhaka, but the party is also preparing to field its own candidates in other city corporations.

Multiple NCP sources say the party wants alliance support in at least one city in Dhaka and in several important cities. But if Jamaat does not agree to give up any city, the NCP also wants to maintain its independent position.

In that case, the NCP plans to participate separately in elections in various city corporations, including Dhaka North and South. Whatever the election results, the party wants to test its organizational capability and public support. However, those concerned also think that if an understanding is reached in the end, there could be a change in the political position.

Speaking to Agamir Somoy on condition of anonymity, a central NCP leader said, "Since the announcement of Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Nasiruddin Patwary as mayoral candidates in the upcoming elections to Dhaka North and South City Corporations, some distance and conflict has been created between Jamaat and the NCP. There is also disagreement over announcing candidates in various areas of the local government elections. From that point, many of the top leaders did not go on the long march. However, there is no possibility of the alliance breaking for now."

Another leading NCP leader told Agamir Somoy, "We want to give Jamaat a message. That is why two big programs of our party have been held the day before and the day after the long march. At the same time, we want to take our politics further. For this reason, our participation in the alliance's programs has decreased somewhat. The party's top two leaders have refrained from participating this time."

However, the NCP has also cited busyness as the reason behind lower participation in the long march. Several leaders, including the party's senior joint convener Hasnat Abdullah, joint convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, and political council member Abdul Hannan Masud, joined the long march. Hasnat Abdullah spoke at a roadside meeting in Jashore. Although he was seen inactive at other times of the long march. On the other hand, Adeeb and Hannan Masud were seen on the stages of various roadside meetings.

In the speech of NCP senior joint convener Hasnat Abdullah at the roadside meeting in Jashore, indications of differences in political position with Jamaat were again found.

He said the opposition party must prepare itself as an alternative government. If the election is rigged, it must be said clearly.

Referring to the Thakurgaon by-election, Hasnat said, raising allegations of vote rigging on one side and coming to share sweets on the other—such a position cannot be politics of opposition.

A reply came from Jamaat as well. At the concluding rally of the long march in Kushtia, Sadik Kayem said that those who were made student advisers in the post-uprising period are the reason why there is now a need to agitate for a referendum verdict and the July Charter. They also bear this responsibility.

After that, Nurul Islam Saddam, central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, became vocal on social media. In a Facebook post, he highlighted the justification of Jamaat's firm position on the question of holding a referendum before the national election.

His statement also criticized the role of the interim government, the reform process, and the performance of duties by former student advisers. This made the exchange of reactions between the leaders and activists of the two parties on social media more visible.

However, some NCP leaders are unwilling to see the absence of top leaders at the long march as a result of the alliance's distance.
NCP senior joint member-secretary Sarjis Alam told Agamir Somoy, "Including three top-level leaders, many others participated in the long march. We had busy schedules. Along with daytime programs, because of coordination meetings at night, they could not take part in the morning opening ceremony. There is no such thing as the alliance breaking."

Joint convener and Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud said, "It is not a matter of the alliance breaking or us leaving the alliance. Our party's top leader could not come to the long march due to being busy."

"Previously, out of 16 members of our political council, 8 used to come; this time 4 have come. Just as I could not come before, this time others could not come either. We are holding our own programs, and at the same time we are also with the 11-party alliance," he said.

On the other hand, a Jamaat leader, speaking to Agamir Somoy on condition of anonymity, said, "The NCP seemed somewhat displeased about candidates in Dhaka city. They are working according to their own strategy and plan. Because their presence at the long march was not like before, questions have been raised about the matter. The party's top leaders also know about it. However, we want all parties to participate separately in the local government elections."

Jamaat's central leaders, however, do not want to directly criticize the NCP's limited participation.

The party's assistant secretary general, Hamidur Rahman Azad, told Agamir Somoy, "The 11-party alliance remains intact. We are in the movement together. For now, we are moving toward contesting the city corporation and local government elections separately."

Earlier, at a press conference the day before the long march, Jamaat's secretary general, Mia Golam Parwar, said there is no division among them. The 11-party alliance will remain intact until the demand for which it was formed is achieved.