In Bangladesh, a group of female leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) has voiced strong opposition to the party’s reported move to forge an electoral alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections scheduled for February 12, 2026.
The dissent emerged after media reports and statements from some NCP leaders suggested that the party, formed by student and youth organisers of the July uprising, was considering a reform-oriented alliance with Jamaat. The protesting leaders said such a move would betray the spirit of the 1971 War of Independence and the democratic ideals of the July uprising, reports New Age, a leading Daily in Bangladesh.
Several female leaders said that an alliance with Jamaat would undermine NCP’s declared ideology and make women’s political participation more difficult. The memorandum issued by the protesting leaders alleged that Jamaat and its student wing have engaged in divisive politics and targeted NCP’s female members through online harassment.
Meanwhile, political analysts and rights activists have raised concerns over Jamaat’s alleged use of religious sentiment in election campaigning, warning that it could undermine democratic norms and fuel social polarisation. Jamaat leaders, however, deny allowing religion to be used for electoral purposes, saying the party is monitoring the issue and will take action against any violations.
