The aftermath of the Jamaat ties has left the National Congress Party (NCP) in a state of flux, struggling to bring back leaders who resigned in protest. On January 12, 2026, the NCP found itself in a delicate situation as its leaders, who had recently stepped down in opposition to the party's alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, were steadfast in their decision to leave. Despite the party's efforts to reconcile, the leaders were unwavering, stating that they would only consider returning if the NCP severed its ties with Jamaat. This has led to a significant exodus of top and middle-ranking leaders, including former senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara and former joint convener Khaled Saifullah, who have resigned, and six others who withdrew their candidacies for the upcoming national election. Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmeen and Joint Member Secretary Nahida Sarwar Niva, while not officially stepping down, have also become inactive in party activities following the NCP's association with Jamaat. The NCP spokesperson, Asif Mahmud, acknowledged the challenge, stating that the party is attempting to bring the leaders back and is in talks with them. However, the leaders who left dismissed these claims, alleging that the leadership is using this narrative to mislead the people and party supporters before the polls. Former leaders revealed that despite calls from NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, and Asif Mahmud, no strong initiatives were taken to address their core ideological concerns. Former joint convener Khaled Saifullah denied any engagement, stating he hasn't been in contact with anyone responsible for his return. The dissident leaders described the process of joining the Jamaat-led alliance as undemocratic and premeditated, with one leader calling it a 'bad deal' and expressing their opposition from the beginning. According to them, the NCP top brass announced a meeting on December 24 via the executive committee's WhatsApp group to discuss the alliance and election strategy. However, many who opposed the alliance were absent, leading to a decision that favored the alliance, as confirmed by a leader familiar with the proceedings. The path to the alliance became easier for the top leadership after the death of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, as claimed by another leader. Farhad Alam Bhuiyan, former NCP ICT cell head, joined the party after the mass uprising and contributed to their IT for a year and a half. However, he opposed the alliance with Jamaat and was the first to resign, stating he didn't want to be part of the 'so-called politics'. Regarding the pressure to return, Farhad made it clear that he won't return unless the NCP severs ties with Jamaat. The NCP's internal meeting to discuss the reinstatement of the resigned leaders was abruptly canceled after the schedule leaked outside party circles. The party leadership, however, maintains that the door is open for the leaders to return. The NCP, founded by frontline activists of the July uprising, has faced challenges in retaining its leaders, with many parting ways over various issues.
