NCP, Jamaat alliance under tension after Habiganj attack
In a Nutshell:
- NCP leaders and activists have raised grievances about the alliance at the grassroots level.
- Some NCP members are supposedly demanding the party reconsider the alliance after the Habiganj attack on its leaders.
- As of now, NCP Media Secretary Yasir Arafat has said that there are no formal discussions regarding the party's exit from the alliance and that the issues are not severe enough to prompt a departure.
- Latest: NCP leaders staged a sit-in after police allegedly blocked their entry into Habiganj during live-stream on their Facebook page.
Why it Matters
The immediate challenge for NCP is whether the Habiganj clash will create a wider political rift with its alliance partner, Jamaat. NCP alleged that at least 10 leaders, activists and journalists, including Nasiruddin Patwary and Sarjis Alam, were attacked yesterday by Chatra Dal even though the district Chhatra Dal president denied any involvement. Some NCP leaders are angry that Jamaat has not opposed the alleged attack by BNP affiliated groups strongly enough, raising questions inside the party about whether the alliance can provide political support when conflicts emerge.
What We Think
The Habiganj clash has exposed a fault line within NCP’s alliance with Jamaat. Alliances are easier to maintain when they are built around elections and shared interests, but they become harder when members feel their partner is not standing with them during a conflict. If NCP leaders continue to believe Jamaat has been too cautious in responding to BNP affiliated groups, pressure could build within the party to reconsider the relationship.
