NCP issues show-cause notice against Ariful; he quits ahead of action

National Citizen Party (NCP) has issued a show-cause notice and temporarily relieved its South Region organiser Ariful Islam Talukder from all responsibilities over alleged breach of party discipline, though Ariful had already resigned before the notice was served.

According to the notice sent to the media on Sunday, a letter signed by Sadia Farzana Dina of the party’s office cell on Saturday stated that Ariful was removed from all organisational duties for violating party discipline.

The decision came under directives from NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhter Hossen.

The party also asked Ariful to explain within two days why he should not be permanently expelled, instructing him to submit his reply to the head of the disciplinary committee.

Ariful, however, posted a photo of his resignation letter on Facebook, saying he had submitted it to the convener and member secretary on Friday.

Party sources said the move followed allegations that Ariful had obstructed Friday’s ‘Ganer Artonad’ programme at Shahbagh, which demanded unconditional release of Baul singer Abul Sarkar and justice for an attack on Baul artists in Manikganj.

The programme, called ‘Sampriti Jatra’—a platform of left-leaning writers, artists, activists and politicians—faced opposition when members of another group, ‘July Manch’, marched to the venue and protested the event. A brief scuffle broke out between the two sides. Investigations found Ariful to be directly linked with July Manch and leading its activities as convener.

In a Facebook post explaining his resignation, Ariful made several allegations against the NCP, claiming he was indirectly asked to choose between politics and his religious beliefs, prompting him to choose his faith.

He also accused the party of selling nomination forms to 1,500 aspirants at Tk 10,000 each while simultaneously negotiating a seat-sharing deal for around 20 constituencies with BNP.

Ariful further alleged that several NCP leaders became millionaires within a year since August 5 last year, and questioned why advisers Asif Mahmud and Mahfuj Alam were being kept away from the party.

He also said he would disclose details on NCP’s failed alliance talks, the real mastermind behind the July movement, and who is being portrayed as the “so-called mastermind” at a press conference on Monday.