[🇧🇩] Anti-Discrimination Student Movement

[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.​

 

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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.​

 

[Saif]

BNP factional clash leaves 10 injured in Munshiganj

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over supremacy in Munshiganj Sadar upazila on Saturday. Five of the injured sustained bullet wounds, said Sajib Dey, Inspector (Investigations) of Munshiganj Police Station, reports UNB. The

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Interim govt-backed party can’t mislead people, says Dr Zahid
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Dec 21, 2024 22:12
Updated :
Dec 21, 2024 22:12

BNP senior leader Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Saturday said it will not be possible to mislead people by forming a political party with the interim government’s backing.

“Everyone has the right to form a political party, and we welcome any such move. But people can’t be misled by forming a political party under the patronage of the government,” he said while distributing warm clothes in Birampur Upazila, reports UNB.

Zahid, a BNP Standing Committee member, said many puppet parties have been formed in the past, but people did not accept them.

He said the government cannot assist a political party showing its biased attitude. “If the government has to cooperate, then all political parties have the right to get its cooperation. “

Stating that various plots are on against the nation, the BNP leader said the country’s problems will not be resolved until an elected government comes to power.

He urged the government to announce a specific election date to handover the power to the elected representatives to save the country and secure its independence and sovereignty.

Describing the BNP as a pro-people party, he said it has always stood by the public to assuage their sufferings. “BNP still remains beside the country’s people. BNP always works for the welfare of people. BNP never runs away leaving people in trouble.”

Zahid said their party prepared a 31-point state overhauling proposal to build a new Bangladesh with the support of the country’s people.

As per the directives of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Zahid distributed warm clothes and blankets among the destitute in four upazilas--Hakimpur, Ghoraghat, Nawabganj and Birampur in the district.​

 

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Nagorik Committee denies reports of forming party named ‘Jonoshokti’

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Saturday denied reports of forming a political party called ‘Jonoshokti’ under its initiative or through the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. “No discussions or decisions have been made about such a party or initiative,” spokespers

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Nagorik Committee denies reports of forming party named ‘Jonoshokti’
REUTERS
Published :
Dec 21, 2024 22:09
Updated :
Dec 21, 2024 22:09

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Saturday denied reports of forming a political party called ‘Jonoshokti’ under its initiative or through the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

“No discussions or decisions have been made about such a party or initiative,” spokesperson Samanta Sharmin said in a statement.

The clarification followed reports on media and social media claiming that the new party would be floated by February next year.

Sharmin urged the public not to be misled by the claims.​

 

[Saif]

'State intelligence agency' is attempting to form political party, Rizvi alleges

Doubts are growing as to whether there are subtle efforts within the government to weaken and break the BNP, he also said

www.thedailystar.net

'State intelligence agency' is attempting to form political party, Rizvi alleges

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today alleged that a "state intelligence agency" is attempting to form a political party.

"If state intelligence agencies decide who will be elected, then what value will there be to these sacrifices?" Rizvi questioned while speaking at a discussion at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) this morning.

He also said that doubts are growing as to whether there are subtle efforts within the government to weaken and break the BNP.​

 

[Saif]

Students’ proclamation move: BNP, others raise questions, Jamaat welcomes it

BNP and several other political parties raise questions about the Students Against Discrimination’s decision to proclaim what it calls the July Revolution while Jamaat welcomes it.

www.thedailystar.net

Students’ proclamation move: BNP, others raise questions, Jamaat welcomes it

BNP and several other political parties raise questions about the Students Against Discrimination's decision to proclaim what it calls the July Revolution while Jamaat welcomes it.

Sources in the BNP say their leaders apprehend that this move may delay the next election. They also wonder why the students are doing this five months after the uprising.

The BNP wants an election at the earliest and believes that only an elected government can run the country.

Ganosamhati Andolon and Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders say the Students Against Discrimination is trying to make it seem like it alone led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5.

Students' Convener Hasnat Abdullah yesterday said the Mujibbadi constitution of 1972 must be buried by the Proclamation of July Revolution.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh says the people will not accept any move to disown the constitution.

But BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the constitution written in 1972 came at the cost of the blood of 30 lakh martyrs.

"As your elders, we feel disappointed when you say that the constitution should be buried. If there is anything bad in the constitution, it can be amended," he said at an event.

"I would like to tell the student leaders not to misunderstand us. When you say things like this, it sounds like fascism. The fascists used to say, 'We will bury them, kill them, and cut them apart," he was quoted as saying by UNB.

Wishing anonymity, a central committee member of the BNP said, "The students have taken the initiative all of a sudden. There are many reasons to think this move is aimed at delaying the election. BNP wants to give the interim government the time that is logical to make some necessary reforms. It should not be unlimited time."

CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said the 1972 constitution was the outcome of the country's long struggle.

"The constitution and its preamble -- nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism -- were adopted as a continuation of the 21-point demands of the 1954 Jukta Front, the 11-point demands of 1969, and the Declaration of Independence during the Liberation War. Those who refuse to acknowledge this or want to repeal the 1972 Constitution and its preamble, are essentially disowning the Liberation War," he said.

Jamaat spokesperson Motiur Rahman Akanda said, "We must welcome the Students Against Discrimination which is set to proclaim on December 31 the July mass uprising as a revolution. They led the mass uprising against the fascist Awami League government.

"We will express our formal reaction after we know what is in the proclamation. We think the students can make such a proclamation. There is nothing wrong with it."

Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan said, "It is a whimsical decision by the students. If the students make any decision without consulting with political parties and other stakeholders, their move will raise questions. Before making decisions, the students should talk to others."

Rashed also said making the proclamation so late defied logic. "It should be declared before the movement," he said, adding that students now want to take all the credit although many political parties, organisations and individuals were behind the movement.

A leader of Ganosamhati Andolon, wishing anonymity, said students were making the move for political gains.​