NCP leaders respond to show-cause notices; decision pending

Five senior leaders of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) have submitted their written responses to the show-cause notices issued over their absence from the first anniversary event of the ‘July Uprising’ and their controversial trip to Cox’s Bazar on the same day.

In a press statement issued Thursday evening, Saleh Uddin Sifat, NCP’s Joint Member-Secretary (Office Affairs), confirmed that all five leaders -- Nasiruddin Patwari (Chief Coordinator), Tasnim Jarah (Senior Joint Member-Secretary), Sarjis Alam (Chief Organiser of the Northern Region), Hasnat Abdullah (Chief Organiser of the Southern Region), and Khaled Saifullah (Joint Convener) -- submitted their responses within the given deadline.

The replies were formally addressed to the party’s Convener Md Nahid Islam and Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain, as instructed.

NCP stated that a decision regarding further action will be taken after reviewing the responses.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the party issued individual show-cause notices to the five leaders, citing their absence from a politically significant day without prior notification to the central leadership.

The notices reads, “On the occasion of the first anniversary of the ‘July Uprising’, a day of national and organisational importance, you along with four other central leaders went on a personal trip to Cox’s Bazar without informing or seeking permission from the party’s political committee. You are hereby requested to appear in person and submit a written explanation to Convener Md Nahid Islam and Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain within 24 hours.”

Meanwhile, Nasiruddin Patwari published his full written reply on Facebook, stating, “I believe the show-cause notice is not based on factual grounds. My trip was transparent, not in violation of any organisational policy, and was a space for private reflection. Nevertheless, out of respect for party discipline and political decorum, I am submitting this explanation—as a mark of civility in an uncivil world.”

The five leaders had travelled to Cox’s Bazar on August 5 -- the same day government observed the ‘July Uprising’ anniversary-- leading to questions about internal coordination and commitment at the senior leadership level.