The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday announced its first batch of 100 candidates for upcoming local government elections, covering upazila and municipalities across the country.

The names were unveiled by NCP Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam at a press conference held at the party's temporary office at Banglamotor.

Sarjis said over 1,000 applications had been submitted to the party for local government seats, from which the initial 100 were selected. "We will announce another 100 candidates in the second phase on May 20. This nomination process will continue.”

He said candidates will be drawn not only from party ranks but also from other political parties, provided they meet certain criteria. “Applicants must be hardworking, acceptable to people, free from any history of oppression, having no direct involvement with the previous fascist government or crimes associated with it.”

“We will do a thorough vetting process, and if anyone from another political party wishes to join, we will make every effort to give them the opportunity,” Sarjis said.

He added that the candidate selection process has been designed to ensure broad social representation, with students, workers, women and members of the Hindu community all given the opportunity to contest under the NCP banner.