SHAMIMA RITA

The National Citizen Party is likely to finalise a seat-sharing deal with Jamaat-e-Islami within the next one or two days ahead of the election, even as a section of senior women leaders has publicly opposed any such arrangement.

The prominent women leaders opposing the possible deal include Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sarmeen, Joint Member Secretary Nusrat Tabassum, Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara, Joint Convener Monira Sharmin, and Tajnuva Jabeen.

They argue that the NCP has already forged a distinct political identity and that any electoral compromise with Jamaat would dilute, and eventually erase, that identity.

One of them, requesting anonymity, said that five of the top party leaders, including Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, were in favour of striking a deal with Jamaat.

However, she said, a group of 30 other senior leaders, including the women, disagreed.

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