Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has voiced strong concerns over allegations that buses were requisitioned to facilitate the participation of representatives from the National Citizens’ Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Movement at the launch of the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP).
The organisation has urged NCP leaders and supporters to abandon such authoritarian practices, which contradict the party’s stated commitment to a "Second Republic" and a "New Political Framework".
TIB has emphasised that such misuse of power and ethical transgressions at the very inception of NCP cannot be ignored by the interim government.
In a statement issued on Saturday (1 March), TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman remarked that the emergence of a political party spearheaded by students—who led the struggle for a new Bangladesh through unprecedented sacrifices—has the potential to be a defining milestone in the post-authoritarian era.
He highlighted the high expectations people have from this young leadership, driven by anti-discrimination ideals.
“As a precondition to fulfilling these expectations, the party must treat this incident of bus requisition and its negative implications as a red alert. Furthermore, it must consciously avoid similar self-defeating actions and behaviours in the future,” he stated.
Iftekharuzzaman further stressed that the newly formed party, led by students, could play a crucial role in liberating the nation from the shackles of power abuse and fostering a positive democratic culture.
However, he warned that any replication of the fallen authoritarian regime’s misconduct would erode public trust and obstruct the growth of an accountable, democratic consciousness in the new Bangladesh.
TIB underscored that the country expects this new political entity to act as a catalyst for dismantling the entrenched culture of authoritarian dominance in politics, governance, and public representation.
However, the ultimate test will be whether NCP can steer clear of the long-standing political tradition of power abuse.
At the same time, the interim government must refrain from extending patronage of any kind to any political entity at any level.
Meanwhile, addressing the controversy, the interim government has categorically denied any involvement in the alleged bus requisition.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam asserted that the government had no role in providing transport for participants at the NCP’s rally.
Speaking at a routine briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, he described the issue as exaggerated and clarified that the government had not interfered in any way with the transportation of attendees from Pirojpur to the event.
“I want to make it unequivocally clear that the interim government had no involvement in this matter,” he stated.
