[🇧🇩] Anti-Discrimination Student Movement

[Saif]

Date of Event: Oct 26, 2024

Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/anti-discrimination-protesters-can-form-a-political-party-in-future-but-under-a-different-name-says-sarjis

Anti-discrimination protesters can form a political party in future, but under a different name, says Sarjis
bdnews24.com
Published :
Oct 25, 2024 17:05
Updated :
Oct 25, 2024 17:05

People involved in the Anti-discrimination Student Movement can form a political party in the future if they want to, but they should do so under a different name, says Sarjis Alam, one of the coordinators of the movement.

“People in the Anti-discrimination Student Movement have the democratic right to form a political party. However, it will create a divide among them if the party is formed at this time, right after the revolution,” he said.

“In future, a political party can be formed if they want to, but under a different name to the Anti-discrimination Student Movement,” he said at a meeting with students and the families of those killed and injured in the movement in Madaripur.

The coordinator warned everyone that many ‘fake coordinators’ had emerged in different districts of the country and urged them to remain alert.

“After Aug 5, many fake coordinators appeared like ‘chameleons.’ They were opportunistic then, remain that way, and will be like that in future as well,” Sarjis said.

”We need to identify them. Otherwise, they will tarnish our image using the identity of a coordinator.”

Sarjis said that ’16 years of oppression’ would not end in 16 months. The mass uprising has destroyed the nest of wrongdoings the Hasina government created, and now the opportunists were trying to create discord among the students, he said.

“Hence, we have to unite. Those students who took part in the movement should remain united. Otherwise, things will go wrong in the future.”

“We must remember that this has been built up for 16 years and only a few of their leaders have fled. It won’t take long for them to return,” Sarjis said.

He also said that any student thinking of becoming a ‘fascist’ in the future or trying to misuse power would be expelled and face legal action.​

 

[Saif]

Truck collides with car of Sarjis-Hasnat’s convoy

A car in a convoy of vehicles carrying leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah was involved in a collision with a truck when the leaders were on their way back from Chattogram.

www.thedailystar.net

Truck collides with car of Sarjis-Hasnat’s convoy
Nobody hurt, trucker held

Photos: Collected

A car in a convoy of vehicles carrying leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement Sargis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah was involved in a collision with a truck when the leaders were on their way back from Chattogram.

The incident occurred last night in Hazipara area of Chunti union under Chattgram's Lohagara upazila.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Rasel of the Detective Branch (DB) of Chattogram District Police confirmed the incident to The Daily Star.

"Hasnat and Sargis were not in the car and are safe," he said.

"A Cox's Bazar-bound truck hit a car in their convoy. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, although the front of the car sustained damage. The truck driver has been arrested," he added.​

 

[Saif]

‘Zero tolerance’ against Awami League

Students against Discrimination held an urgent meeting on Monday night with leaders of 19 student organisations to resolve the ‘ongoing conflicts and clashes’

en.prothomalo.com

‘Zero tolerance’ against Awami League
Urgent meeting with leaders of 19 student organisations to resolve the ‘ongoing conflicts and clashes’
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 27 Nov 2024, 09: 30

Students against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah briefs media following a meeting with the leaders of 19 student organisations at Rupayan Trade Centre in Dhaka's Banglmotor intersection area early on 26 November 2024 Prothom Alo

‘National Students Solidarity Week’ will be observed for seven days from Tuesday. Under this programme message of unity and solidarity will be circulated to various institutions

Demand of confiscating the assets of those elected from AL in the last three national elections in the fastest time

Bangladesh Awami League is trying to make a comeback in different ways through conspiracy, Students Against Discrimination has stated.

The student body further said an anti-fascism unity is required now. As part of that, they held an urgent meeting with leaders of 19 student organisations on Monday night.

They reached a unanimous decision on four issues at this meeting. One of those four is “Zero tolerance to Awami League”. Another is to observe “National Student Solidarity Week” from today, Tuesday.

Leaders of 19 students organisations including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Federation, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Islami Chhatra Andolan, and Biplobi Chhatra Parishad attended the meeting organised by the Students Against Discrimination to resolve the “ongoing conflicts and clashes”.

The meeting continued from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am on Monday night at the central office of Students Against Discrimination at Rupayan Trade Centre in the capital’s Banglamotor area.

Members of Students Against Discrimination executive council including convener Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser Abdul Hannan Masud, and spokesperson Umama Fatema were present in the meeting.

Among other Chhatra Dal central organising secretary Amanullah Aman, Chhatra Shibir Dhaka University unit general secretary SM Farhad, Chhatra Federation central president Mashiur Rahman Khan and general secretary Saikat Arif, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad central president Bin Yamin Mollah, and Biplobi Chhatra Parishad leader Abdul Wahed participated in the discussion.

At the meeting, leaders of different student organisations presented their observations and proposals concerning the ongoing situation of the country.

Some of the student leaders also expressed their grievances over the issue of not being valued properly, stated sources from the meeting.

Following the meeting Students Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah said it has been decided in the meeting that all of them will be united on some basic issues. This includes “Zero tolerance to Awami League”. On the question of rehabilitating Awami League, every single anti-fascism student organisation will follow a “zero tolerance” policy.

Stating that it seems like a “season of movement” has been going on in the country, Hasnat Abdullah said that there’s a huge funding of Awami fascists here. In principle, everyone has agreed that the assets of those elected from the Awami League in the last three national elections should be confiscated as quickly as possible. The interim government has to take clear and visible steps in this regard.

While highlighting the third point of their consensus Hasnat Abdullah said that if the interim government thinks that they build a polished Bangladesh with the same Awami administration that strengthened fascism, it would be a wrong step for the government. The interim government in the fastest possible time has to polish the administrative structure by taking out the officials recruited on Awami League’s political recommendation.

Speaking on the fourth issue of their consensus, Hasnat Abdullah said that taking advantage of the scope of movement at different places including Dr Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, Awami League affiliates, including Chhatra League, are joining in and creating conflicts. From that point of view, they have announced “National Students Solidarity Week” for the next seven days with the message unity like that from before 5 August.

As part of that the political parties and student organisations against fascism will be circulating a message of unity and solidarity to different institutions.

This programme has been taken to reaffirm organisational bonding by spreading the message that there is no alternative to be united against rehabilitation of Awami fascism. The National Students Solidarity Week will start from Tuesday, he said.

Mentioning that the discussion of unity will continue, Hasnat stated that in future there will be discussions on what will be the structure of student politics, and how can the young generation and the student organisations play a role in reforming the state.

Apart from that, there will also be discussions on various other issues including the formation of a student council to remain united, he added.

Addressing the school and college students in the end, Hasnat Abdullah said that there will be an attempt to create division in different ways and there will be attempts of dirty politics. A conspiracy of disrupting the harmony is being brewed. Millions are being spent on this from abroad.

However, the environment of the educational institutes, public properties and national unity should not be hampered so that the fascist powers do not get the chance of rehabilitation. He called for the students of schools and colleges to remain united.

In response to a question, Hasnat Abdullah said, “A notion has been created that only Awami League protects the minorities. But it is the Awami League who has taken away the rights of the minorities the most and tortured them the most in the history of the country.”

Prior to this meeting there was an urgent meeting of the central executive committee of Students against Discrimination Monday afternoon on the overall situation of the country. This meeting also emphasised on coordination of all the stakeholders alongside anti-fascism unity.​

 

[Saif]

Student leaders mugged on Dhaka-Ctg Highway

A car carrying eight student leaders of anti-discrimination student movement came under attack on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj's Sonargaon upazila

www.thedailystar.net

Student leaders mugged on Dhaka-Ctg Highway

Photo: Collected

A car carrying eight student leaders of anti-discrimination student movement came under attack on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj's Sonargaon upazila.

The attackers reportedly looted the phones and wallets of the passengers at the time.

The incident took place around 2:00am at Mograpara area of the upazila, when the student leaders were heading to Bandarban's Lama by a microbus to join an event, said police.

Kazi Wahed Murshed, officer-in-charge of Kanchpur Highway Police Station, said vehicles on the highway were moving at a slower pace as there was dense fog in the middle of the night.

At that time, a group of people wielding locally-made sharp weapons stopped the car ferrying the student leaders and broke the windows. Two of the passengers suffered minor injuries due to glass shards.

The attackers fled after looting their phones and wallets.

On information, police rushed to the spot and arranged security for the victims. When another vehicle arrived, some of the them left for Dhaka and while some for Bandarban, said the police officer.

"The nature of the attack suggests that it was a mugging attack. Sonargaon police are working to identify the criminals and arrest them."

However, Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, in a Facebook post, termed the incident as an "attack" and demanded a fair investigation.

Umama Fatema, the spokesperson of the organisation, said that eight student leaders including Arif Sohel, member secretary of the organisation, were heading to Lama to join an event there.

Rupaiya Shreshta Tanchangya, a student leader who was a passenger of the car, said, "Some people carrying machetes and other sharp weapons stopped our car, held us hostage and looted our phones, wallets, and bags and left the scene."

Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon Police Station Mohammad Abdul Bari said, "The car came under attack by a group of muggers. On information, our patrol team responded. We are looking into the matter with utmost importance. The muggers will be brought under the law soon."​

 

[Saif]

Students, Nagorik committee: We’ll form a political party within 2 months

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Jatiya Nagorik Committee are planning to form a new political party within a month or two, said Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

www.thedailystar.net

Students, Nagorik committee: We’ll form a political party within 2 months
Committee convener says ‘no polls before trials of all AL miscreants’

From the left: Nasir Uddin Nasir, Abdul Hannan Masud, Mahir Shahriar Reza. Photos: Collected

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Jatiya Nagorik Committee are planning to form a new political party within a month or two, said Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

"We are currently a political initiative, born out of the 2024 mass uprising, comprising forces that defeated Awami fascism and aim to rebuild Bangladesh," he told reporters after paying tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar marking Victory Day yesterday.

Their vision is to present Bangladesh as a dreamland in South Asia and on the global stage.

"With this goal in mind, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will introduce a promising political party within the next month or two."

About elections taking place by the first half of 2026, Nasiruddin told reporters that the new party would never support holding the next general polls until "all the Awami League miscreants" are tried for their role in the civilian killing spree during the July-August uprising.

The country has a history of holding elections without trying the killers of peaceful anti-government protesters whenever a forcible regime change occurs, he said, while urging all to work towards ensuring justice against the AL.

"…Even after 1971, we have not yet been able to hold trials for those who stood against the people of Bangladesh in 1971. We have not yet seen justice for those killed in 1990. Taking lessons from 90 and 71, there will be no elections before the trial of 2024," he said.

He further said if there is an election before the trial of 2024, the 2,000 martyrs and millions injured will not get any justice.

"To this end, we call on all parties, factions, and groups to be active in the judicial process and fulfil the dream of Bangladeshis," he said.

Through the July-August uprising, the country also gained independence from Indian hegemony, Nasiruddin said, while cautioning the young generation to stay active against conspiracies being hatched by New Delhi and the AL.​

 

[Saif]

Students, Nagorik committee: We’ll form a political party within 2 months

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Jatiya Nagorik Committee are planning to form a new political party within a month or two, said Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

www.thedailystar.net

Students, Nagorik committee: We’ll form a political party within 2 months
Committee convener says ‘no polls before trials of all AL miscreants’

From the left: Nasir Uddin Patwary, Abdul Hannan Masud, Mahir Shahriar Reza. Photos: Collected

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Jatiya Nagorik Committee are planning to form a new political party within a month or two, said Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

"We are currently a political initiative, born out of the 2024 mass uprising, comprising forces that defeated Awami fascism and aim to rebuild Bangladesh," he told reporters after paying tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar marking Victory Day yesterday.

Their vision is to present Bangladesh as a dreamland in South Asia and on the global stage.

"With this goal in mind, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will introduce a promising political party within the next month or two."

About elections taking place by the first half of 2026, Nasiruddin told reporters that the new party would never support holding the next general polls until "all the Awami League miscreants" are tried for their role in the civilian killing spree during the July-August uprising.

The country has a history of holding elections without trying the killers of peaceful anti-government protesters whenever a forcible regime change occurs, he said, while urging all to work towards ensuring justice against the AL.

"…Even after 1971, we have not yet been able to hold trials for those who stood against the people of Bangladesh in 1971. We have not yet seen justice for those killed in 1990. Taking lessons from 90 and 71, there will be no elections before the trial of 2024," he said.

He further said if there is an election before the trial of 2024, the 2,000 martyrs and millions injured will not get any justice.

"To this end, we call on all parties, factions, and groups to be active in the judicial process and fulfil the dream of Bangladeshis," he said.

Through the July-August uprising, the country also gained independence from Indian hegemony, Nasiruddin said, while cautioning the young generation to stay active against conspiracies being hatched by New Delhi and the AL.​

 

[Saif]

New political party with state patronage to ruin govt credibility: BNP

Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Friday that the interim government’s credibility would be ruined if a new political party was formed under state patronage.

www.newagebd.net

New political party with state patronage to ruin govt credibility: BNP
Staff Correspondent 21 December, 2024, 00:45

Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Friday that the interim government’s credibility would be ruined if a new political party was formed under state patronage.

Rizvi came up with the remark at a programme organised by ‘Amra BNP Paribar’, a pro-BNP organisation which provides supports to the people in distress, at Katashur at Mohammadpur in the capital Dhaka.

‘We have come across reports at newspapers that a new political party named Jatiya Nagorik Committee is going to be formed,’ he said.

‘We are stepping on the path of democracy, so, it is good news if the students who led the anti-discrimination movement are coming with the new political party, but it shouldn’t be a king’s party.’

Noting that everyone has rights to form a political party, he said that if the party was formed under state sponsorship, the government’s credibility would be ruined.

Participants in the democratic movement must respect the values of democracy, he added.

Rizvi also said that history would not forgive them (the interim government) if they made any mistakes. If the interim government fails, the country’s independence and sovereignty may be endangered, he said.

He said that the roadmap given by the interim government was a protracted one, and the people did not expect it.

Mentioning that the BNP had never backed down on the movement and struggles in the past, Rizvi also said that the BNP had a glorious contribution in 1971, November 7, 1975, and mass uprisings in 1990 and 2024.

BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Friday urged the chief adviser to announce a clear date and a roadmap for the national election, without making any delays in the process using the execution of reforms as a pretext.

‘We will listen to what the chief adviser says. Please, specify the roadmap and election date,’ he said while addressing a discussion arranged by the Bangladesh Chalak Dal at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital Dhaka.

He also said that the people of the country did not want the interim government to delay the transfer of power to the elected representatives or the election in the name of reforms.

‘No matter who says what, the people’s representatives will decide what will be fully reformed and what will not,’ he said.

Farroque said that if the government announced the election date, it would bring relief to the people and restore their confidence that democracy and the rule of law would be re-established through a fair election.

He called upon the government to take necessary steps to prevent the manipulation of the market by the Awami League’s ‘ghosts’ during Ramadan, the fasting month for the Muslims.

The BNP leader alleged that the Awami League was plotting to destabilise the country by carrying out attacks on members of the Hindu community.

He said that deposed autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina must face trial in Bangladesh and be held accountable for her misdeeds, including killings and repression.​

 

[Saif]

Delhi lodges protest with Dhaka over Mahfuj Alam’s comments

India has lodged a strong protest with Bangladesh over certain controversial comments by key aide of Bangladesh's interim government Mahfuj Alam, the Press Trust of India, or PTI, reports. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Alam said on December 4 that India should recognise the uprising that forced

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Delhi lodges protest with Dhaka over Mahfuj Alam’s comments
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Dec 20, 2024 19:21
Updated :
Dec 20, 2024 19:33

India has lodged a strong protest with Bangladesh over certain controversial comments by key aide of Bangladesh's interim government Mahfuj Alam, the Press Trust of India, or PTI, reports.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Alam said on December 4 that India should recognise the uprising that forced the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign, according to the report.

"We have registered our strong protest on this issue with the Bangladesh side. We understand that the post being referred to has reportedly been taken down," India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was quoted as saying at a media briefing on Friday.

"We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments," the PTI quoted him as saying.

"While India has repeatedly signalled interest in fostering relations with the people and the interim government of Bangladesh, such comments underline the need for responsibility in public articulation," Jaiswal was also quoted to have said.​

 

[Saif]

Some parties were indecisive till 30 July about joining movement: Sarjis Alam

The July Shaheed Smrity Foundation hosted the programme in Khulna, to hand over Tk 500,000 to each of 58 martyrs in the Khulna division.

en.prothomalo.com

Some parties were indecisive till 30 July about joining movement: Sarjis Alam
Staff Correspondent
Khulna
Published: 20 Dec 2024, 21: 03

Families of the movement victims in Khulna receive financial support from the July Smriti Foundation.Prothom Alo

Sarjis Alam, the chief organiser of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee and also general secretary of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, has lambasted some political parties, without naming any, for their ‘hesitation’ until 30 July about joining the students' movement against the Sheikh Hasina regime.

“Until 20, 25, and even 30 July, many political parties said that they could not take any decision whether they should support the ouster of fascist Hasina, or whether they should join the movement,” he said at a programme in Khulna on Friday.

The July Shaheed Smrity Foundation hosted the programme at Shilpakala Academy auditorium in Khulna, to hand over Tk 500,000 to each of 58 martyrs in the Khulna division.

While addressing the programme, Sarjis Alam noted that some political parties, who were indecisive during the movement, are now talking big.

“If they now boastfully claim that they were on the frontline during the uprising and that we (the anti-discrimination student movement) were just participants, I just request them to recall their position throughout the month of July,” he said.

Addressing the family members of the movement victims, Sarjis vowed to remain unbiased and non-alienated to any group in the coming days.

“We will not spare anyone. At the same time, we will monitor if the propaganda cells affiliated with different groups attempt to misinterpret different issues and practice evil politics,” he added.​

 

[Saif]

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement: Leaders mull new party early next year

Some leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who were at the forefront of the July-August student-people uprising that ousted the Awami League regime, are likely to launch a new...

www.newagebd.net

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement: Leaders mull new party early next year
Moinul Haque 22 December, 2024, 00:31

Some leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who were at the forefront of the July-August student-people uprising that ousted the Awami League regime, are likely to launch a new party by the first quarter of the next year.

They are now busy preparing the party manifesto and programmes which they said would be centrist in nature.

The organisers said that the new political party would be youth-oriented, with its primary focus on establishing social democracy as a means to eliminate all forms of discrimination.

The manifesto would prioritise the values of the people and the heritage of the land, with a strong commitment to preventing any Islamophobic activities in the country, they said.

‘The initiative to form a political party aims to realise the vision of a Bangladesh dreamed of by countless individuals who took part in the mass uprising and those who made supreme sacrifices in the movement,’ Jatiya Nagorik Committee convener Nasiruddin Patwary told New Age on Friday.

Nasiruddin, a key leader of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, a social platform of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that the people wanted to see a political party within a short time that would really act to protect the interest of Bangladesh and its people against the existing old political settlement in the country.

‘The political party will be formed by students with support from the Jatiya Nagorik Committee. We aim to complete our preparations within two months, and the announcement will be made at a time when the people are ready and eager for it,’ he said.

The party’s declaration would embody a synthesis of the principles of the Proclamation of Independence—equality, human dignity and social justice—and the aspirations of the 2024 uprising, he added.

Nasiruddin emphasised the need for a political party to fulfil the aspirations of the 2024 mass uprising, saying that students and youth did not benefit from previous uprisings, including that of 1990, with their achievements instead being taken over by the two dominant political parties.

Denying the allegation of forming a party under the patronage of the interim government and the state, Jatiya Nagorik Committee spokesperson Samanta Sharmin said that the accusation was merely an attempt to discredit the initiative of the students.

She said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was probably thinking of the initiative of students as a threat to them.

The new political party would be centrist—neither religious nor socialist—and would welcome people of all ideologies, she said.

‘We are working on the party literature and it will be finalised shortly,’ Samanta added.

‘We are young, and while we may have some flaws in the process of party formation, people must recognise that the youths and students, who have always sacrificed their lives in democratic movements throughout history but have never been properly acknowledged, are now coming together to form a party,’ she said.

Recently, the BNP alleged that efforts were underway to form a ‘king’s party’ under state patronage.

In several districts across the country, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated bodies allegedly attacked members of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and foiled some of their programmes.

On the issue, Nasiruddin said that they were not against the BNP, rather many of the young leadership and activists of the party remained aligned with a new political settlement.

He said that the BNP leaders, who wanted to maintain the old political settlement while disregarding the aspirations of the martyred in the July-August uprising, saw the students’ initiative to form a new political party as a threat to them.

Asked whether the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who joined the government, would join the political party, Nasiruddin said that they would have no opportunity to do so while remaining in the government.

Jatiya Nagorik Committee co-convener Sarwar Tusher said that the reflection of the mass uprising and the power of youth would be evident in the name of the new political party though the name was yet to be finalised.

He said that elections without ensuring qualitative change of institutions through reforms would bring no positive result for the people.

‘People want reforms, while the BNP only seeks elections,’ he mentioned.

Tusher also said that not only the BNP, all the political parties, who ruled the people as dictators, were now united against the new political settlement and the aspiration of the people.

Following the mass uprising, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee was formed on September 8 and sought to unite diverse groups in Bangladesh to establish a new political settlement for a democratic society.

It has so far formed some 100 thana and upazila committees across the country.

According to sources, after forming 400 thana and upazila committees, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and Anti-Discrimination Student Movement would announce the new political party.​