NCP names 27 candidates, eyes expansion in Jamaat-led bloc

The National Citizens Party (NCP), a key partner in the electoral alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, has announced its candidates for 27 of the 30 seats it has agreed to contest in the upcoming national elections. 

The party said candidates for the remaining three constituencies will be finalised soon.

On Sunday, the NCP posted posters of its candidates on its verified Facebook page, urging voters to support them under the symbol ‘Shapla Kali’ (Water Lily Bud’.

 Among the frontrunners, party convener Nahid Islam will contest from Dhaka-11, member secretary Akhtar Hossain from Rangpur-4, southern region chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah from Comilla-4, and northern region chief organiser Sarjis Alam from Panchagarh-1. 

Other notable candidates include chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari in Dhaka-8, senior joint coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud in Noakhali-6, and Md Abdul Ahad in Noakhali-2.

The list also features Dilshana Parul in Dhaka-19, Nabila Tasnid in Dhaka-20, Atiq Mujahid in Kurigram-2, Zahidul Islam in Mymensingh-11, Saifullah Haider in Tangail-3, Jabed Rasin in Dhaka-9, Ali Naser Khan in Gazipur-2, Majedul Islam in Munshiganj-2, Shamim Hamidi in Pirojpur-3, and SM Jarjis Qadir in Natore-3. Other candidates include Ariful Islam Adeeb in Dhaka-18, Mahbub Alam in Laxmipur-1, SM Saif Mostafiz in Sirajganj-6, Sarwar Tushar in Narsingdi-2, Abdullah Al-Amin in Narayanganj-4, SM Shuja Uddin in Bandarban, Ashraf Mahdi in Brahmanbaria-2, Jobairul Hasan Arif in Chattogram-8, and Mohammad Ataullah in Brahmanbaria-3.

The NCP, contesting 30 constituencies as part of the alliance, has already submitted 47 nomination papers. 

Party sources indicate that after the Islamic Andolan Bangladesh exited the pact, discussions with Jamaat are ongoing to potentially expand the number of seats for NCP candidates. Observers say this could give the party a stronger presence in key constituencies ahead of the elections.