47 leaders join NCP

Rumors have turned into reality. 47 leaders and activists from various organizations and groups, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and United People Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh), have joined the NCP. Most of them were already associated with the NCP or its affiliated platforms. Among them are Ali Ahsan Zonaed, Rafe Salman Rifat, Rifat Rashid, and Hasib Al Islam.

On Sunday afternoon, NCP convener Nahid Islam welcomed the new members with flowers at a ceremony held at the party’s central office in Bangla Motor, Dhaka.

What Nahid Islam said

NCP convener Nahid Islam told reporters that all new members have been included in the party’s central committee. He said the allocation of responsibilities will be announced through a press release. Gradually, leaders and activists from UP Bangladesh and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will also join the NCP at the local level.

“We have repeatedly said—we do not only seek a change of parties or individuals; we want a change in the power structure. We want to build a Bangladesh where sovereignty remains intact, the country stands tall, and resists hegemonic influence,” Nahid Islam said.

“At the same time, we want an inclusive society where people of all religions, opinions, classes, and professions live together, and a discrimination-free economic system takes shape. Along this path, differences of opinion, separate platforms, and new initiatives have emerged. But we have always viewed these positively. The more youth join and organize in politics, the better it is for the country.”

He said that working together on a single platform is the most effective approach. Opposition Chief Whip Nahid made the remark.

According to him, “Those who have gathered here today were not working toward different goals. They may have been active in different platforms, but we believe the goal is one and the same. There is no alternative for the country right now other than strengthening the NCP as a force that carries the spirit of the July uprising and uniting the youth.”

The former adviser also expressed his aspiration to unite youthful energy. “We are prioritizing those who participated in the July uprising. Regardless of the platform they belong to, we are calling on them—those who want to do politics should join the NCP. And those who wish to work outside formal politics are also welcome in our engagement.”

Who joined the NCP

Among those who joined are UP Bangladesh convener Ali Ahsan Zonaed, chief coordinator Rafe Salman Rifat, and spokesperson Shahrin Ira; AB Party joint general secretary Barrister Sani Abdul Haque; Anti-Discrimination Student Movement president Rifat Rashid, chief coordinator Hasib Al Islam, office secretary Shahadat Hossain, legal cell secretary Mahfuz, and Kushtia University unit convener SM Sweet.

Others include Ayman Jahan, Hasan Tanvir, Tanvir Ahmed Mondol, Wahid Alam, Jahidur Rahman, Mosharraf Hossain, Mohammad Junayed, Sultan Maruf Talha, Tousif Mahmud Sohan, Farhana Sharmin Suchi, Sazzad Sabbir, Mohammad Raihanul Islam, Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, Ahmed Karim Chowdhury, Dilara Khanom, Kazi Salman, Mohammad Solayem Hasan, Murad Hossain, Engineer Abu Sayeed Mohammad Numan, Foyaz Shahed, Engineer Mohammad Imam Uddin Riad, Mostafa Kamal Mahathir, Arafat E Rabbi Prince, Kazi Ahnaf Tahmid, Mohammad Shamim, Badre Alam Shahin, Mohammad Nazmul Haque, Masuma Billah Sabihah, Farzana Akter, Towhidul Islam (Jagannath University), Rakibul Islam (Jahangirnagar University), Sadat Muttasim Prantik (NSU), Mohiuddin Hasan, Mohammad Nurul Hasan, and Al Mahmud.

Around two dozen leaders from UP Bangladesh

Following the July uprising, former Dhaka University unit president of Islami Chhatra Shibir Ali Ahsan Zonaed and Rafe Salman Rifat had joined the National Citizens Committee. They were also part of discussions on forming the NCP. However, they eventually refrained from joining the NCP and announced the formation of a new political platform called UP Bangladesh on March 16 last year.

Now, less than a year later, at least two dozen leaders under their leadership have joined the NCP.

Meanwhile, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement president Rifat Rashid and chief organizer Hasib Al Islam did not directly join the NCP but were involved in its student wing. They later took responsibility in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. This platform is also largely considered to be influenced by the NCP.