PTI DHAKA

The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) has declared its opposition to the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League's participation in upcoming elections.  Nahid Islam told the US-based international current affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region,The Diplomat,  that those within the Awami League responsible for "wrongdoing" must face trial before any electoral involvement.

NCP aims to establish a "Second Republic" through a Constituent Assembly, introducing a new constitution and restructuring power dynamics. Islam emphasized that this republic would be "rooted in the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and the July Uprising."

The party, which emerged with support from interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and students involved in the previous year's anti-discrimination movement, advocates for a "balanced and beneficial diplomatic approach" free from foreign dominance.  centred around either India or Pakistan. The NCP will remain solely Bangladesh-centric, prioritizing national interests above all," he said.

"In the past, we saw regimes heavily dependent on Delhi's influence. However, we will not allow Bangladesh's politics to be centred around either India or Pakistan. The NCP will remain solely Bangladesh-centric, prioritizing national interests above all," Islam said.

These statements come amidst ongoing discussions about planned elections and the interim government's reform initiatives, including constitutional reform. While NCP pushes for significant changes, other parties and analysts urge for swift elections with minimal electoral system reforms, emphasizing that an unelected government should not prolong its tenure. The political landscape remains tense, with differing views on the path forward.