NCP May Boycott Polls Without Major Reforms: Nahid

The National Citizen Party (NCP) may opt out of the upcoming elections if fundamental state reforms are not ensured, said the party’s Convenor Nahid Islam on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters in Dhaka following a meeting with visiting US diplomats, Nahid raised concerns over the prevailing political environment and accused the administration of favouring BNP in various regions. He warned that elections under such biased conditions would not be acceptable.

“We are not pushing for cosmetic or minimal reforms,” Nahid said. “We’re demanding transformative changes — in the administration, judiciary, police, and bureaucracy — to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.”

He reiterated NCP’s core demands: justice, structural reform, and an election to form a Constituent Assembly. “Unless these issues are addressed, any election will lack legitimacy, and our participation remains uncertain.”

Nahid also criticised what he called the administration’s silence over widespread extortion and attacks on NCP members at the grassroots level. “The field administration must be neutral. Without that, a level playing field is impossible.”

On the election timeline proposed by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, Nahid said the NCP is open to the schedule but only if key conditions are met. “There must be a roadmap for justice, real reform, and activation of the July Accord. Without these, election timelines are irrelevant.”

He added that discussions with the US delegation covered democracy, minority rights, political direction, and the party’s ideological stance.

Nahid concluded that unless sweeping reforms are undertaken, NCP would reject any election outcome as illegitimate.