A delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP) held a meeting with the Pre-Election Assessment Team from the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Dhaka on Wednesday to discuss Bangladesh’s current political and electoral landscape ahead of the upcoming national polls.

The meeting was held following an official invitation from IRI and aimed at facilitating an exchange of views on the overall political environment and the ongoing electoral process.

The IRI delegation included senior representatives and experts — Christopher J. Fussner, Member of the IRI Board of Directors; Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS; Jessica Keegan, Technical Expert on Democratic Elections and Political Processes at IRI; Steve Cima, Resident Program Director at IRI; Jami Spykerman, Program Director at NDI; John Fluharty, Political Party and Campaign Consultant; Darin Bielecki, Consultant at IRI; and Amitabha Ghosh, Program Consultant at IRI.

The NCP team was led by Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, Joint Convenor and Lead of the International Relations Cell (IRC), accompanied by Monira Sharmin, Joint Convenor and IRC Member; Alauddin Mohammad, Joint Member Secretary and Deputy Lead of the IRC; and Tahsin Riaz, Joint Member Secretary and IRC Member.

Discussions were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, focusing on recent political developments, the role of the Election Commission, and the government’s responsibilities in ensuring a fair and credible electoral process.

During the dialogue, the NCP delegation shared its observations on the current electoral climate and raised specific concerns regarding procedural matters linked to the party’s electoral symbol. The representatives underscored the need for transparency, institutional integrity, and accountability as key pillars of a credible democracy.

Responding to queries from the IRI team, the NCP delegation elaborated on its position regarding the “July Charter,” outlining the reasons behind its decision not to sign the document. They reaffirmed that the decision reflected the party’s principles of political independence, national interest, and dedication to meaningful democratic reform.

The NCP team also presented its proposed reform agenda, focusing on strengthening institutional capacity, promoting internal democracy within political parties, and building public trust through transparency and ethical governance — elements that, they said, align with NCP’s long-term vision for a responsible and accountable political culture in Bangladesh.

The IRI Pre-Election Assessment Team appreciated the NCP delegation’s openness and clarity during the discussions and acknowledged the importance of sustained engagement with political stakeholders in assessing Bangladesh’s democratic environment.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing a shared commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation in support of the country’s democratic journey.

The National Citizen Party expressed its gratitude to the International Republican Institute for organizing the exchange and reaffirmed its willingness to maintain communication and collaboration on issues of mutual interest.