Buses for NCP ‘abuse of power that goes against the new spirit’, TIB says

Transparency International Bangladesh, or TIB, has criticised the Pirojpur deputy commissioner’s bus requisition for the National Citizen Party’s, NCP, inaugural event in Dhaka, calling it “contrary to the spirit of the new political settlement”.

The agency says the interim government cannot dodge responsibility for such "abuse of power and immorality" at the very birth of the NCP.

The anti-corruption body also called for the abandonment of "old authoritarian practices" under the banner of the "second republic" and the "new political settlement”.

The NCP emerged on Friday under the leadership of the organisers who led the 2024 mass uprising.

A wave of criticism has surfaced on social media, alleging that the government arranged buses to transport NCP supporters from Pirojpur to Dhaka.

The TIB expressed concerns on the matter in a statement on Saturday.

On this day, Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam claimed at a media briefing that the government had no role in the requisition of buses made by the DC.

Responding to a question on the matter at a media briefing at the capital’s Foreign Service Academy on Saturday, the press secretary said quoting the Pirojpur DC: “The Anti-discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens’ Committee sent applications to the DC for requisition of several buses.

“There they sought help to transport two families of those injured and killed in the July-August uprising. In response to that request and some demand, the DC facilitated the 'requisition' of five buses.

“The DC claimed no fuel cost of the buses was paid by the administration and the government had no involvement in the incident.”

Shafiqul said, "The government is creating a level-playing field for all political parties. It is 'our' duty to ensure that all political parties participate in free, fair, and inclusive elections. ‘Our’ position is the same for all parties. Most of the information in this regard is exaggerated."

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, "The emergence of a new political party by the students who led the movement to achieve the goal of the 'new Bangladesh' following the unprecedented sacrifice of the students and the masses, is likely to be considered an important milestone in post-authoritarianism Bangladesh.

"People's expectations from the youth-led new party inspired by the anti-discrimination spirit are also immense. As a prerequisite to meeting these expectations, we urge the party to take this precedent of bus reservation and its negative impact as a ‘red alert’ at the very beginning, as well as to refrain from such acts and behaviours in the future."