Is NCP being crafted as Ali Riaz’s long-term political force?

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka, June 17, 2025 (BDD) — Political scientist and head of the Constitution Reform Commission, Professor Ali Riaz, has expressed support for the emergence of a new political force for long-term democratic transformation. However, his stance has raised questions—is there an attempt to create a ‘king’s party’ by forming the National Citizen Party (NCP) with student coordinators who led the July 2024 turmoil?

The July 2024 turmoil, which led to the fall of the Awami League government and became known as the “July Revolution,” was spearheaded by young student coordinators in an anti-discrimination movement. Following this movement, the NCP was formed on February 28, 2025, by the initiative of the National Citizen Committee and student activists, with Nahid Islam as its convener and Nasiruddin Patwari as chief coordinator.

Ali Riaz believes it is natural for the youth who led the July turmoil to form a political party, as they demanded not just the removal of a fascist system but also a new political order.

He stated, “They were at the forefront of a major movement. They have political demands and plans. Without forming a party, realizing these aspirations is impossible.” However, he clarified that he opposes any party formed with direct government backing and sees no signs of NCP becoming a “king’s party.”

Some analysts suggest that the formation of NCP has the tacit support of interim government chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Yunus’s presence at the party’s launch event has fueled this suspicion. However, the lack of political experience among the student coordinators leading the party and their involvement in violent incidents during the July movement have raised questions about their leadership maturity.

While the student coordinators gained support from students and teenage gangs during the July turmoil by promising a brighter future and an egalitarian society, post-movement, many have been accused of engaging in vengeful politics, corruption, and misconduct. Political analysts question how secure the country’s democratic future would be if power is handed to such inexperienced leaders.

Critics argue that NCP could be used as a tool to capitalize on the aspirations of the July turmoil for power grabs. Particularly, their demands to ban the Awami League and their involvement in violent incidents during the movement have cast doubt on their democratic commitments.

On the other hand, NCP supporters claim the party will work to realize the ideals of the July Revolution, including uprooting fascism, ensuring social justice, and restructuring a democratic state. However, the lack of transparency in the party’s formation process and internal conflicts over positions have led many to question the sincerity of their democratic claims.

While Ali Riaz’s perspective highlights the possibility of democratic transformation, NCP’s formation and its leadership’s activities have sparked fresh debates about the country’s political future. Netizens believe Ali Riaz is “hiding fish with greens”—a thinly veiled attempt at political engineering. Whether this young leadership will truly advance democracy or repeat old political corruption in their lust for power—only time will tell.