50 BNP and Jatiya Party Leaders, Activists Join NCP

At least 50 leaders and activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiya Party have officially joined the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur. The defectors said they switched parties as BNP and Jatiya Party no longer uphold patriotism, democracy, or properly value dedicated grassroots workers, prompting them to move toward a new political platform.

The joining took place on Thursday evening (5 February) at an NCP election courtyard meeting held in Sechakanthi village under Parul Union. NCP Member Secretary and 11-party alliance candidate for Rangpur-4 (Kaunia–Pirgachha) constituency, Akhtar Hossain, welcomed the new members by placing flower garlands around their necks.

Former BNP and Jatiya Party leaders, activists, and supporters joined the party carrying banners bearing the NCP’s electoral symbol, the Water Lily Bud. Among those who joined were BNP ward member Abu Raihan, Abdul Gafur, Iman Ali, student leader Mizanur Rahman, Jatiya Party leaders Badsha Mia and Minhajul Islam, along with Rustom Khan Dipjal, Abdul Khalek, Moynul Islam, Sohel Rana, Ashraf Ali, Abdur Rashid, Hasan Mia, Habizar Rahman, Aftab Hossain, Rafiqul Islam, Abdus Sattar, and many others—bringing the total number of new entrants to around 50–55.

Speaking at the event, the new members said that honest, courageous, and people-oriented politics is essential for real change in the country, and that NCP has emerged as that alternative force following the July uprising that dismantled authoritarian structures. Welcoming them, Akhtar Hossain said the growing wave of defections proves that people have begun to move toward change, expressing hope that many more leaders and activists would join the NCP in the coming days.

Leaders and activists of the 11-party electoral alliance, including Pirgachha Upazila Jamaat Ameer Bazlur Rashid Mukul, were also present at the program.