[🇧🇩] Anti-Discrimination Student Movement

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]

Nahid hints at resigning by end of this week to join new party

Information Adviser Nahid Islam today said he will take the decision regarding his resignation and joining a new political party by the end of this week

www.thedailystar.net

Nahid hints at resigning by end of this week to join new party

Nahid Islam

Information Adviser Nahid Islam today said he will take the decision regarding his resignation and joining a new political party by the end of this week.

The information adviser said this while talking to reporters after the Deputy Commissioners' Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.​

 

[Saif]

Adviser Nahid dismisses resignation rumours

Rumours have been circulating that Information and Broadcasting Advisor Nahid Islam has resigned, but he has dismissed the claims. On Sunday evening, bdnews24.com contacted the Chief Advisor’s Office regarding the matter. An official from the press office said, "I asked Advisor Nahid about

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Adviser Nahid dismisses resignation rumours
bdnews24.com
Published :
Feb 23, 2025 21:00
Updated :
Feb 23, 2025 21:00

Rumours have been circulating that Information and Broadcasting Advisor Nahid Islam has resigned, but he has dismissed the claims.

On Sunday evening, bdnews24.com contacted the Chief Advisor’s Office regarding the matter.

An official from the press office said, "I asked Advisor Nahid about this. He said, 'no, I have not resigned’."​

 

[Saif]

July activists to launch party on Feb 28: Sarjis

Formal launch on Friday at Manik Mia

www.thedailystar.net

July activists to launch party on Feb 28: Sarjis
Formal launch on Friday at Manik Mia

Screengrab

The new political party of the July uprising activists is going to be launched on February 28, chief organiser of Jatiya Nagorik Committee, Sarjis Alam, said today.

The announcement will be made at 3:00pm at a rally in Manik Mia Avenue, he said.

Sarjis made the announcement at a press briefing held at Nagorik Committee's office in Dhaka's Bangla Motor this evening.​

 

[Saif]

Dispute in Nagorik Committee over members’ China visit

A dispute has emerged within the Jatiya Nagorik Committee over the inclusion of some members in a delegation of 22 political leaders from eight parties, including the BNP, who travelled to China on Monday at the invitation of the Communist Party of China

www.thedailystar.net

Dispute in Nagorik Committee over members’ China visit

A dispute has emerged within the Jatiya Nagorik Committee over the inclusion of some members in a delegation of 22 political leaders from eight parties, including the BNP, who travelled to China on Monday at the invitation of the Communist Party of China.

In a press release issued at midnight, the committee stated it was unaware of the visit and had received no formal invitation. It clarified that no official representative was part of the delegation or authorized to act on its behalf.

"If any individual joins the delegation or claims to represent the Jatiya Nagorik Committee without approval, their actions are personal and not linked to the committee," the release stated.

Among the delegates are Ali Ahsan Zonaed and Rafe Salman Rifat, both former leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir's Dhaka University unit. Zonaed is reportedly being considered for a senior role in a new political party launching Friday at Manik Mia Avenue.

Internal tensions have risen within the committee over leadership appointments in the new party. Some oppose giving key positions to former Shibir leaders, fearing it would reinforce the Awami League's claim that the July uprising was backed by Jamaat-Shibir. Others support a more inclusive approach.

As a compromise, the committee recently introduced two new senior positions—senior joint convener and senior joint member secretary—alongside the existing four key posts of convener, member secretary, spokesperson, and chief organiser.

Zonaed was reportedly being considered for the senior joint convener role, while discussions were ongoing about a position for Rifat. However, their unapproved China visit has raised fresh concerns within the committee.

Following the press release, several leaders expressed unease over Zonaed and Rifat's action. Some suggested this could impact Zonaed's potential leadership role in the new party.

The Nagorik Committee has urged all parties to avoid confusion and requested verification of any representation claims before acknowledgment or action.

However, around 12:28am, Zonaed in a Facebook post said, "The new political party, set to launch on February 28 under the leadership of young individuals, will not include me. I informed the party leaders about my decision more than a week ago. In the interest of greater unity and to keep the nation's focus on the new party, I chose to remain silent. However, the speculations have not stopped, so I want to make my position clear."

"Look, for Bangladesh's future, a political party led by those who spearheaded the uprising is necessary for the country's best interests. I extend my prayers and best wishes to this new political party. May it always remain committed to honesty and justice, as per the people's aspirations. May it establish a new political culture that eliminates all avenues for corruption," he said in the status.

"Although my repeated calls went unheeded, I still hope that democratic processes and inclusiveness will define this party. Even after facing unfortunate realities, I sincerely wish that this party will break free from the politics of tagging and taboos, ushering in a new era of politics, he said.

Zonaed further said, "I also hope that the sense of brotherhood, love, and cooperation we shared during the uprising will continue in this new political journey, with mutual respect remaining unchanged. Best wishes to the new party, Nahid Islam, and the emerging leadership."​

 

[Saif]

Manifesto, programmes of students’ party not finalised

The manifesto and the programmes of the new political party of the students who led the July-August mass uprising are yet to be finalised though the party is going to be floated on February 28.

www.newagebd.net

Manifesto, programmes of students’ party not finalised
Moinul Haque 25 February, 2025, 23:58

File Photo

The manifesto and the programmes of the new political party of the students who led the July-August mass uprising are yet to be finalised though the party is going to be floated on February 28.

The Students Against Discrimination that led the mass uprising and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee, formed by the youths that led the uprising, on Monday announced the date of flouting their new party.

Meanwhile, putting an end to speculation over the leadership of the new party, the interim government’s information adviser and Dhaka University student Mohammad Nahid Islam, one of the key student coordinators of the July uprising, resigned from the government’s advisory council on Tuesday to take the helm of the new party.

The party will begin its journey with a 151-member convening committee, and a significant number of members would be included from outside the Students Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee, they said.

The organisers of the JNC said that they would launch their party at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka by reading out its declaration.

The party’s manifesto and programmes would be published in phases, they said.

They said that the declaration would highlight Bengal’s thousand-year history, emphasising its tradition of coexistence across religious and social lines.

It would reflect on key movements and struggles, including the Partition of 1947, the Language Movement of 1952, the Liberation War of 1971, the mass uprising of 1990, and the student-led movement of 2024, they said.

The declaration would also define the party’s ideological foundation, with the rich cultural heritage of the Bengal Basin as a core principle.

The new party would be announced to fulfill the aspirations of the 2024 mass uprising, drawing from past movements and struggles where such aspirations remained unrealised, the organisers said.

Jatiya Nagarik Committee spokesperson Samantha Sharmin on Tuesday said that the outline of the convening committee for the new party was yet to be finalised, but it could consist of 151 members.

She said that it would take time to finalise the manifesto and programmes.

‘Initially, we will announce the main party on February 28 without any associated fronts. The fronts, including the student wing, labour wing, and youth wing, will be announced later,’ she said.

One of the new party organisers confirmed that Nahid Islam would be the convener and that he had resigned from the government to lead the new party.

Following his resignation as an adviser to the interim government, Nahid told reporters that he, in an informal meeting of the advisory council at 1:00 pm, had discussed a personal issue and submitted his resignation letter to the chief adviser.

‘I intend to join the new political party to work on the ground with the people to unite them once again and fulfill the promises of the mass uprising. This is why I am resigning,’ he said.

In response to a question about the top positions in the new political party, Nahid urged journalists to wait until the announcement on February 28.

One of the organisers of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee said that JNC member secretary Akhtar Hossain would be the member secretary of the party and the name of the party would be finalised by Thursday.

He said that JNC chief organiser Sarjis Alam and the Student Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah would hold the posts of organisers while the JNC convener Nasiruddin Patwary would hold the post of chief coordinator.

Youth leaders who played a key role in the student-led uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government launched their political platform Jatiya Nagarik Committee at the Central Shaheed Minar on September 8, 2024.

The committee aimed to dismantle the fascist system and pursue a new political settlement for Bangladesh.

Following up on the momentum of the July-August uprising, the leaders of Students Against Discrimination unveiled the committee›s expansion plans in October 2024, focusing on district, upazila, and educational institution levels nationwide.

In January 2025, leaders of the two platforms announced plans to launch a new centrist political party in Bangladesh by February.​