A growing sense of unease has gripped the National Citizen Party (NCP) as its leaders express conflicting views over a meeting with the army chief on 11 March.
The unauthorised public disclosure of details from the discussion—posted on Facebook by party leaders Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam—has unsettled many within the party, with some accusing them of seeking personal popularity rather than maintaining party discipline, according to insiders.
Early on Friday, Hasnat Abdullah alleged in a Facebook post that a conspiracy was in motion to facilitate the return of the Awami League into mainstream politics under India’s influence.
He claimed that at a meeting in the cantonment, a proposal was made to accommodate a "refined" version of the party. His remarks swiftly ignited political controversy, fuelling calls for an outright ban on the Awami League.
Against this backdrop, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, speaking at an event in Sylhet on Saturday, criticised Hasnat’s decision to make such statements on social media, calling it "inappropriate" and warning that it could compromise future political engagements.
The controversy deepened yesterday when Sarjis Alam, the party’s chief organiser (north), further elaborated on the meeting in a Facebook post.
While standing in solidarity with Hasnat, he cautioned that revealing details of sensitive discussions could lead to "trust issues in future critical dialogues with any stakeholder."
Sarjis clarified that they had not been summoned to the meeting but had approached the army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, to seek clarity on his National Martyred Army Day speech, in which he warned against "mudslinging and fighting."
"On the issue of ‘pressure’ regarding a refined Awami League, I did not sense any coercion," Sarjis wrote. "Rather, the army chief confidently stated that if a refined version of the Awami League did not emerge, it would pose long-term challenges for the country and political parties alike."
He also downplayed any apparent friction between Hasnat and the army chief, stating that the latter had spoken "from the perspective of someone senior, drawing upon his long experience."
Sarjis condemned attempts to pit Hasnat against the army chief, dismissing suggestions that the two were at odds. "Their positions and contexts are entirely different," he noted, also distancing himself from demands for the army chief’s resignation, which have surfaced in some quarters.
Meanwhile, Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator of NCP, openly rebuked both Hasnat and Sarjis in a comment under the latter’s post, saying their actions were "dragging the NCP into controversy."
"What is this, brother?" he wrote. "One of you is lying. This cannot continue."
Multiple senior NCP members said that the public airing of such internal discussions has caused widespread discomfort within the party.
Many central committee members have voiced their frustration in the party’s internal social media groups, criticising the practice of attending high-profile meetings without consulting the party leadership and then making public disclosures without authorisation.
"Most NCP leaders were unaware that Hasnat and Sarjis had even met with the army chief," an NCP leader said, requesting anonymity.
"When Hasnat revealed on Facebook that the army had proposed rehabilitating the Awami League, reactions were mixed. While some praised his uncompromising stance against the Awami League, Sarjis’s subsequent clarification raised further questions."
A senior NCP leader also noted that the party, as a nascent political force, would inevitably engage in both formal and informal discussions with various stakeholders.
However, he warned that making sensitive discussions public without deliberation could erode trust and discourage future interactions.
Another senior member suggested that a significant number of NCP activists remain rooted in social media-driven activism and have yet to fully transition into structured political conduct.
"The party forum will soon discuss this issue and work towards establishing discipline regarding public statements on social media," he added.
Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary sought to downplay concerns of internal discord, urging patience with the party’s evolving dynamics.
"Many students involved in the uprising are now transitioning into politics. If mistakes have occurred during this process, I urge the public to view them with understanding and patience," he said at a programme in Dhaka on Sunday, assuring that the party would issue a formal statement on the matter soon.
Meanwhile, Sweden-based Netra News reported that the army, in response to its queries, confirmed the 11 March meeting but dismissed Hasnat’s claims as "absolutely laughable," calling his post "nothing but a complete political stunt."
However, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said it was unaware of any official statement from the Army Headquarters regarding the Netra News report.
