A new political party, the ‘National Citizens’ Party’ (NCP), was officially launched in Bangladesh on Friday, February 28. The party announced a 151-member committee, with interim government advisor Nahid Islam as its convener. However, controversy erupted over the inclusion of LGBTQ activist Muntasir Rahman, leading to widespread debate on social media. Following intense criticism, Muntasir was removed from the committee.
Formation of the New Committee and the Controversy
The NCP was formed under the initiative of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens’ Committee. The controversy began soon after the committee was announced, as images of Muntasir Rahman Moon supporting LGBTQ rights surfaced online. This led to strong reactions within the party and from the public, prompting senior NCP leaders to clarify their stance.
Reactions from NCP Leaders about Muntasir Rahman
NCP’s Chief Organizer (Southern Region) Hasnat Abdullah and Chief Organizer (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam addressed the issue separately on Facebook. Both emphasized that their party would not support anything that contradicts Islamic values. Hasnat Abdullah stated:
“Before politics, my identity is that I am a Muslim. I hold onto this identity and always will.
I will never engage in politics that goes against my faith or the beliefs of my country’s people. Let me make it clear that anything opposing religious values will never have a place in our politics.
What happened was an unintentional mistake. We are not infallible. If we make mistakes, we expect our brothers to correct us, and without hesitation, we will rectify them.”
Sarjis Alam echoed a similar sentiment in his Facebook post.
Public Backlash and Reactions
Social media saw an outpouring of criticism regarding Muntasir Rahman’s inclusion. NCP Joint Secretary Mahin Sarkar wrote on Facebook:
“By Allah! We do not want homosexuality in Bengal.”
He further mentioned: “Muntasir helped us establish a safe house, but we were unaware of his activities.”
Party’s Reassessment and Muntasir’s Removal
NCP Joint Secretary Rifat Rashid provided further clarification, stating that no one associated with the LGBTQ community holds a position in the party and that Mun had been removed. Rashid explained:
“As a Muslim, I do not support LGBTQ or gay communities from a moral standpoint. Muntasir Rahman played a crucial role in maintaining our communication during the July uprising. When we were trapped at Kuwait Maitree Hospital, he helped rescue us. Even afterward, during the July movement, he remained connected with us. Based on this, we considered him a human rights activist.
However, after seeing several images on social media today, we learned about his involvement with LGBTQ causes. This revelation has left me deeply embarrassed. Once again, I want to make my ethical stance clear—I do not support any form of homosexuality.”
He further confirmed that the final committee would be announced soon, ensuring that any controversial figures are excluded.
Political and Social Impact
Following the announcement of the NCP’s new committee, debates emerged over the party’s policies and decisions. The inclusion and subsequent removal of Muntasir Rahman have sparked intense discussions in Bangladesh’s political landscape, making it a widely discussed issue.
Sources: ঢাকা ট্রিবিউন ০১ মার্চ ২০২৫,
নিউজ২৪বিডি ০১ মার্চ ২০২৫,
ইনকিলাব ০১ মার্চ ২০২৫,
আমাদের সময় ০১ মার্চ ২০২৫,
ডেইলি ক্যাম্পাস ০১ মার্চ ২০২৫,
যুগান্তর ০১ মার্চ ২০২৫
Publication Date: March 1, 2025
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