Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman has described the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed after the mass uprising, as a “King’s Party.”
He made the remark on Monday in response to a question during a press conference at TIB’s Dhanmondi office in Dhaka, where the organisation unveiled its study report titled “One year after the fall of the authoritarian regime: Expectations vs. reality.”
According to TIB’s research findings, a government-backed political party, referred to as a “King’s Party”, was formed following the regime change.
When asked to identify the party, Iftekharuzzaman said: There is nothing secret about it. It is the National Citizen Party. It has been called a King’s Party because two of its close associates are now in government positions.
He described the political trajectory after August 5 as “ominous,” explaining: “From that very evening, a section of top leaders of existing political parties engaged in favouritism, extortion, and case trading, which has worsened over the past year.”
“Even interventions from party high commands could not contain this. As a result, newly formed political parties followed the same destructive model from their inception, indulging in extortion and violent practices.”
The TIB report revealed that between August last year and June this year, Bangladesh witnessed 471 incidents of political violence, resulting in 121 deaths and 5,189 injuries. The study attributed 92% of these incidents to BNP, 22% to Awami League, 5% to Jamaat-e-Islami, and 1% to the NCP.
Additionally, TIB’s observations highlighted rampant extortion and lawlessness after the fall of the government.
It reported daily extortion of Tk 22.1 million from 53 transport terminals and stands in Dhaka previously controlled by Awami League affiliates, alongside illegal stone extraction in Sylhet, and the takeover of leases for bridges, markets, ferries, sandbanks, and water bodies.
The study also noted the filing of politically motivated cases and the rise of “mob” politics– road blockades, police station sieges, and violent protests– leading to further deterioration of law and order.
