The National Citizen Party (NCP) is visibly leaning towards the BNP on question of possible seat-sharing negotiations. Although none of the negotiations have been made public, both parties admit that informal talks are active and ongoing.
Multiple sources from both sides said that the NCP has placed a clear demand for at least 20 seats, including four in Dhaka. The party also wants a share in the cabinet if the BNP comes to power.
Nothing is signed yet, but the expectation is evident. The NCP has not ruled out going solo, but its leaders are simultaneously bargaining for maximum advantage. Some senior figures have even opened separate lines of communication with Jamaat-e-Islami, indicating that the party is keeping its options wide open.
BNP insiders confirm the discussions. Although the BNP has already named candidates in many of the constituencies the NCP wants, party leaders say those nominations could be withdrawn if a final deal is cut.
A senior BNP leader acknowledged that the NCP’s demands are not limited to seats. The party wants political protection and negotiations reportedly include a proposal to award three ministerial berths to the NCP if the BNP returns to government.
The BNP has not committed to that demand, but it has made one thing clear that it does not want the NCP aligning with Jamaat. The NCP, however, is carefully signaling that it does not want to inherit a “right-wing” identity by formal association with Jamaat — despite Jamaat being willing to offer more concessions than the BNP.
Meanwhile, ahead of the 13th national election, the NCP yesterday formed a “Central Election Steering Committee,” appointing Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary as its head and Senior Joint Member-Secretary Tasnim Jara as secretary. Ten other leaders have been included as committee members.
According to a party statement, the committee was formed to oversee overall preparation and planning for the 2026 national election — including candidate selection, grassroots coordination, legal and administrative activities, media and publicity, as well as training and monitoring.
NCP leaders say Convener Nahid Islam wants to contest from Dhaka-11. Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain plans to run from Rangpur-4. Nasiruddin Patwary is interested in Dhaka-18 or Chandpur-5. Tasnim Jara wants Dhaka-9, while Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib is preparing for Dhaka-14.
North regional coordinator Sarjis Alam wants Panchagarh-1, and South regional coordinator Hasnat Abdullah wants Comilla-4. Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud is preparing for Noakhali-6.
Except for Dhaka-9 and Dhaka-18, the BNP has already nominated candidates in nearly all of these constituencies. Whether those two seats have been kept open for NCP is not yet known.
Two student advisers in the interim government — Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan — do not publicly belong to the NCP, but insiders say their influence is undeniable. If a BNP-NCP deal materializes, Asif Mahmud may resign from his government position to run for Dhaka-10, and Mahfuz Alam could contest Lakshmipur-1. The BNP has already left both seats vacant.
However, the Lakshmipur-1 seat is a battlefield of its own — LDP Chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim has reportedly secured a BNP green signal for that nomination.
Alongside alliance discussions, the NCP is preparing to fight the election alone. A partial list of candidates may be published as early as next week.
The party believes it holds solid ground in at least four or five constituencies. In Noakhali-6 and Kurigram-2, Jamaat may quietly support NCP candidates if they decide to run independently — another signal that the NCP is building leverage on more than one front.
According to a senior leader, defections and new recruits are now coming in from multiple parties — including BNP — giving the NCP confidence that it can field a sizable, competitive team without relying on a formal alliance.
LND/SAE
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