NCP’s doors open to ex-BCL, Shibir members: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam said on Sunday that individuals with past affiliations to Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Chhatra Shibir can join his party.

“It does not matter to us whether someone was involved in Chhatra League or Chhatra Shibir politics in the past. But those accused of involvement in fascism, violence, extortion or corruption would not be accepted,” he said addressing a press conference at the party’s central office in the capital’s Bangla Motor area.

Nahid, founding convener of the NCP and now opposition chief whip in parliament, made the remarks as the student-led party continues to position itself as a new political force following its emergence during the quota reform protests on 28 February 2025, when it gained prominence through street mobilisation against BCL activists.

During the press conference, Nahid formally welcomed former BCL members into the party and called on them to engage in politics aligned with the NCP’s ideology and organisational principles.

Nearly 50 leaders and activists from different political and social platforms joined the NCP at the event. Among them were top figures from UP Bangladesh, including Convener Ali Ahsan Junaid and Chief Coordinator Rafe Salman Rifat.

“Those who want to establish the politics of the NCP’s responsibilities according to its constitution and who want to establish a democratic Bangladesh without discrimination, we all want to move forward in the days ahead, upholding the aspirations of the July uprising,” Nahid said.

“The NCP feels that the newcomers, who took part in the NCP politics today, were with us all the time and we were together, maybe our platforms were different,” he added. 

Nahid, also a former adviser to the Prof Mohammad Yunus-led interim government, called on the country’s young generation to join the NCP, stressing that their participation is essential to strengthen the party and prevent the recurrence of fascism.