Dhaka, Dec. 29 -- The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by frontline leaders of the July Uprising, is facing the tremors of internal rifts after a decision taken to manage the challenge of contesting the parliamentary election, which will be held just 16 days before its first anniversary.

Over the past several days, a string of resignations has rocked the party. The latest, and most politically significant, development came when Mahfuj Alam announced that he would not be joining NCP at all.

Mahfuj, a leading organiser of the Students Against Discrimination Movement, had represented students on the interim cabinet led by Muhammad Yunus. On Sunday night, after placing himself in the ranks of former advisors since the election schedule ...