NCP calls on Chief Adviser to take “decisive action” against JaPa

The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has urged Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to take “effective action” against the Jatiya Party (JaPa), accusing it of legitimising three “illegal elections” under the previous Awami League government.

The demand was raised during a meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Jamuna residence on Sunday evening. “The July Charter notes that JaPa endorsed three unlawful elections. Posters of their two current secretaries-general even presented them as Awami League nominees. This proves that the Awami League and JaPa are effectively the same entity. For this reason, we have called for decisive action,” said NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib after the talks.

During the meeting, NCP outlined five major concerns:

• Rehabilitation, treatment, and security for those injured in the July uprising.

• Action against security officials involved in enforced disappearances over the past 15 years.

• Holding a Constituent Assembly election to draft a new constitution, in line with the July Charter.

• Ensuring impartiality of the Election Commission, citing a recent assault at its office.

• Maintaining law and order and guaranteeing fairness in upcoming student parliament polls at universities.

The party further demanded that citizens turning 18 in February 2026 be allowed to cast their votes in the national election.

The NCP delegation included Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Coordinator of the Southern Region; Ariful Islam Adib, Senior Joint Convener; Dr. Tasnim Jara, Senior Joint Member Secretary; and Abdul Hannan Masud, Senior Joint Chief Coordinator.

Earlier in the day, Chief Adviser Yunus also met with Jamaat-e-Islami and was scheduled to sit with BNP leaders later in the evening, as political parties remain divided over the election roadmap following the Election Commission’s announcement that polls will be held in the first half of February 2026.

The meeting came against the backdrop of a violent clash in Kakrail between supporters and Gono Odhikar Parishad activists. Security forces intervened with batons to disperse the crowds, leaving Nurul Haque Nur and others injured — an incident that has drawn widespread criticism.

On Saturday, the government condemned the attack on Nur. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that Yunus would hold talks with BNP, Jamaat, and NCP to address the crisis and discuss election preparations.