[🇧🇩] Political ambition of anti-discrimination protesters

[Saif]

New student-backed political party to contest in all 300 constituencies: Rifat Rashid

Rifat Rashid, central executive committee member of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has announced that the student-backed political party will be launched in February. He also said that the party aims to field candidates in all 300 parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections to fulfil t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

New student-backed political party to contest in all 300 constituencies: Rifat Rashid
Published :
Jan 26, 2025 23:03
Updated :
Jan 26, 2025 23:03

Rifat Rashid, central executive committee member of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has announced that the student-backed political party will be launched in February. He also said that the party aims to field candidates in all 300 parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections to fulfil the aspirations of the people in the post-July period.

He made these remarks on Sunday (January 26) during an exchange meeting held at the Mohammad Ali Yeakub Ali School field in Tetuljhara Union, Savar.

Rashid warned that any party that fails to meet public demands or resorts to oppression, similar to the ousted Awami League, will also be rejected by the people.​

 

[Saif]

'Those who think they will buy students with chairs in Parliament are wrong'

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the central committee of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, those who think they can grab power by buying students with some chairs in the parliament are wrong, according local media reports. "Hasina and the Awami League government could not buy us d

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

'Those who think they will buy students with chairs in Parliament are wrong'
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Jan 27, 2025 22:57
Updated :
Jan 27, 2025 22:57

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the central committee of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, those who think they can grab power by buying students with some chairs in the parliament are wrong, according local media reports.

"Hasina and the Awami League government could not buy us during the mass uprising. Now those who think that they will grab power by buying students with some chairs in parliament, they are mistaken. I tell those who want to go towards power, come to the people instead of going towards power. We will be by your side too."

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a view exchange meeting of students and people titled 'Rising Chuadanga' held at Chuadanga Government College Road Poura Mukta Mancha ground on Monday.

Presided over by Aslam Hossain, convener of Chuadanga district unit of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the meeting was conducted by Saffatul Islam, member secretary of the district committee, and discussed important issues like fascism, democracy, movement and reform.​

 

[Saif]

‘No decision yet on us joining political party’

Information Adviser Nahid Islam said yesterday that there has been no decision about student representatives resigning from the interim government to join a political party.

www.thedailystar.net

‘No decision yet on us joining political party’
Says Nahid about the July uprising leaders in govt

Information Adviser Nahid Islam said yesterday that there has been no decision about student representatives resigning from the interim government to join a political party.

"No such decision [to resign] has been made yet. If and when it happens, we will announce it ourselves. If we decide to join a political party or quit the government, we will announce it officially."

Nahid, also the posts and telecommunications adviser, made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the ministry.

"No such decision has been made from my end or Asif's [Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan] end. We're carrying out our roles within the government."

A Bangla daily newspaper reported yesterday that advisers Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud were set to resign from the cabinet and join a political party likely to be floated by the July uprising leaders in February.

Asked about the report, Nahid said, "I have seen the report. The newspaper did not clarify its source. They should have been more responsible in their reporting.

"I had previously mentioned that we will not join any political party while still being part of the interim government."

Asked whether the Awami League would be banned, Nahid said the government has yet to reach a decision.

"Since the judicial process is ongoing, we want to see how far the legal proceedings go and what the court rules."

He further said the matter needs to be discussed with political parties, as it is both a legal and a political decision.

"Personally, and from the perspective of student leaders, we believe that after what the Awami League has done over the past 15 years, including the massacre in July, they should no longer be allowed to do politics under the name and banner of Awami League," said Nahid.

He, however, said they do not want to begin a cycle of political vengeance.

"We want justice, and reconciliation as well," said Nahid.​

 

[Saif]

Students could form political party: Yunus to FT

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has indicated that students in Bangladesh might form their own political party. “This is a good time because I’m always protecting the unity of the nation. I do not want to depart from that. One of the possibility is that the students themselves will form a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Students could form political party: Yunus to FT
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Jan 30, 2025 20:22
Updated :
Jan 30, 2025 20:57

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has indicated that students in Bangladesh might form their own political party.

“This is a good time because I’m always protecting the unity of the nation. I do not want to depart from that. One of the possibility is that the students themselves will form a party," he said while speaking on the "Rachman Review" podcast, hosted by Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator of the Financial Times

Yunus acknowledged the potential challenges ahead for the students too. "Maybe in the process of forming a party, they will fall apart. That’s also a danger because politics is getting in, and all the politicians will penetrate into them. So we don’t know whether they can remove themselves from the politics that we have in the country. This is the kind of chance we have to take. But the students are ready. They are campaigning. They are organizing throughout the country," he said.

The Financial Times recorded the weekly podcast during Yunus’ visit to Davos in Switzerland, where he attended the 55th World Economic Forum meeting. The podcast, featuring Yunus, was published in writing on Thursday.​

 

[Saif]

Leave government before forming party

Fakhrul tells student leaders, urges them to avoid confrontational politics

www.thedailystar.net

Leave government before forming party
Fakhrul tells student leaders, urges them to avoid confrontational politics

Photo: AFP

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the people of Bangladesh will not accept if the students -- who steered the Anti-Discrimination Movement -- form a political party by remaining in the interim government.

Speaking at a programme on Saturday, he also called upon the student leaders to refrain from making unnecessary remarks that may lead to political confrontation.

"If students form a new political party, we don't have any objection. In fact, we'll be delighted and we'll welcome them," Fakhrul said while speaking at a clothes distribution programme for the destitute at a playground in Uttara's 13-No sector, organised by the Dhaka North City unit of BNP.

He said the students can form a political party as part of their efforts to reach the people with their new thoughts and ideas.

"But if they form a party while in government, the people of this country will not accept it," the BNP leader observed.

Fakhrul further expressed his commitment to cooperate with the students if they form the party through an accepted process.

"We'll work shoulder to shoulder with you (students) to ensure a fair election. At the same time, I would like to request you not to bring any unnecessarily confrontational rhetoric into politics. We hope for that," he said.

The BNP leader said efforts are being made to destroy the unity among democratic forces by the associates of the Awami fascists. "We must remain alert to avoid it."

Fakhrul also warned that the ghosts of the Awami League are trying to infiltrate different political parties. "Don't let them do it. I urge our leaders and workers to ensure that no ghosts of the Awami League intrude into our party."

The BNP leader said the nation was freed from the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina through the mass uprising. "But our ultimate goal – the restoration of democracy -- has not yet been achieved."

He called upon the interim government to arrange the national election after completing the necessary reforms as early as possible.

Fakhrul said their party leaders and workers fought and struggled for 15 years for the restoration of democracy through a credible election.

"Many of our leaders and workers died over the last 15 years. In the July movement, 426 of our leaders and activists were killed. What we ask from you (the interim government) is to remain neutral. You must remain completely impartial," he said.

He reiterated that the next election must be held under a neutral government. "We want the interim government to ensure the election is held in a completely neutral manner," Fakhrul said.​

 

[Saif]

A young adviser may resign to lead a new political party

Top leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee said the new party will be a centrist party.

en.prothomalo.com

A young adviser may resign to lead a new political party
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 03 Feb 2025, 20: 13

The Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee are going to unveil a new political party in mid-February and a young adviser may resign from the interim government to take the responsibility of the new party.

Top leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee said the new party will be a centrist one . They have received several proposed names but have not yet finalised it. Discussion is underway to determine the party symbol.

Several sources of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee said any of three advisers representing the students in the interim government – Mahfuj Alam, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain – will resign and lead the party and the remaining two will may also quit the government at their convenience. One of the latter two may resign in June and join the party, according the sources.

When asked, Jatiya Nagorik Committee member secretary Akhter Hossain told Prothom Alo on Sunday evening a formal announcement on the formation of their will come at the last half of February. The party will be a centrist party focusing national interests other than the right and left ideologies. They want to bring new faces who have no political affiliations but sided with the mass uprising.

Discussion is underway on the party’s name, launching date and venue, Akhter Hossain said adding, “We are trying to understand the public opinion. Names of student advisers from the interim government also came up in our discussion but this has yet not been finalised. Besides, if they resign how the representativeness of the student will remain in the government is also being discussed.”

A source of the Anti-Discrimination Movement said a brother of an adviser can hold an important post in the new political party. That individual is a member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

A student-people mass uprising led by the student platform Anti-Discrimination Movement ousted the Awami League government on 5 August 2024 while the Jatiya Nagorik Committee was launched in last September aimed at strengthening the forces of mass uprising for the nation rebuilding. Jatiya Nagorik Committee gave the first committee on 8 November 2024. As of 1 February, they formed representative committees in 257 thanas and upazila and had mor than 34,000 representatives across the country.

The Anti-Discrimination Movement formed the first committee on 2 November. As of 1 February, they have convening committees in 30 districts, 5 cities, 8 thanas, 2 universities, three colleges and a polytechnic institutes. They have about 8,500 members.

However, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee will remain as a civil political platform and the Anti-Discrimination Movement will continues its activities even after the formation of the new political party by the students.​

 

[Saif]

Info adviser Nahid hints at leaving govt role to join new party

Information adviser Mohammad Nahid Islam has indicated that he may step down from his government position to join a new political party if he feels that working directly with people is more important than serving in the government.

www.newagebd.net

Info adviser Nahid hints at leaving govt role to join new party
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 15 February, 2025, 17:20

Information adviser Mohammad Nahid Islam. | File Photo

Information adviser Mohammad Nahid Islam has indicated that he may step down from his government position to join a new political party if he feels that working directly with people is more important than serving in the government.

‘There are discussions about forming a new political party. If someone wishes to join, it is not possible by retaining a government role,’ Nahid said in an interview with a television channel on Saturday.

He said that the new party is expected to be formed this month and if it happens, all will know it within a few days.

Nahid Islam, a coordinator of anti-Discrimination Student Movement and student of Dhaka University, took oath as an adviser to the interim government on August 9 after the fall of Hasina govt in a mass upsurge on August 5.

Nahid, who was a student of Dhaka University’s Sociology Department (2016-17 session), was picked along with another adviser, Asif Mahmud, during the first round of curfew slapped by the Hasina government to suppress the quota reform movement.

Later, Detective Branch members picked him along with some other coordinators while he was undergoing treatment at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital.

Later, six coordinators of the movement including Nahid were forced to announce the withdrawal of the anti-discrimination student movement programme in a video message when they were under DB custody.

But after being released from there, they again announced the programme for a movement and at one stage placed a one-point demand seeking Hasina’s resignation.

The movement then turned into mass upsurge with the participation of people from all walks of life, forcing Hasina to resign and flee the country.

Nahid Islam was a leader of a student organisation called Ganatantrik Chhatra Shakti. Nahid was the member secretary of the central committee of the organisation.​

 

[Saif]

‘Some cops, judges patronising killers’

National Citizens' Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam yesterday alleged that certain police officers and judges are patronising criminals in exchange for benefits.

www.thedailystar.net

‘Some cops, judges patronising killers’
Alleges Sarjis

National Citizens' Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam yesterday alleged that certain police officers and judges are patronising criminals in exchange for benefits.

Speaking at a discussion titled "Your Vision of a New Bangladesh" in Sonargaon yesterday, he claimed that numerous allegations have surfaced regarding political groups that once opposed fascism but are now protecting these individuals in return for money and power.

He said some police officers and judges continue to provide cover for these criminals in exchange for various favours.

Addressing the upcoming elections, he said it must be the most transparent election in Bangladesh's history. He said if one party were to win all 300 seats while others secured none, they would accept it, provided the election upheld the spirit of the revolution.

However, he warned that if any force attempted to manipulate votes or influence polling centres, those places would become the grounds for another uprising.

Sarjis said their new political party would be inclusive of people from all backgrounds, regardless of religion, ideology, age, or class.

He said Nahid Islam, a key figure in the movement, had been asked to step out of power and take on a crucial role for the people.

He alleged that certain groups, especially in the media, were attempting to create division by spreading misleading information about leadership appointments.

Accusing the former prime minister, he alleged that "Killer Hasina" fled the country out of fear but continues to incite unrest from abroad along with her beneficiaries.

Sarjis urged the people to carefully assess their leaders, asking them to recognise who stood by them during difficult times and who remained absent, only to return now claiming to support them.

He said many so-called leaders had been missing for the past 16 years but were now resurfacing to seek leadership, and he cautioned that these figures would abandon the people again when the time came.

Criticising ongoing corruption, he claimed that extortion and syndicates still exist and that land grabbing in Sonargaon has worsened.

He called for unity in order to bring about real change. He also advised people against blindly following any leader, urging them instead to engage in logical criticism.​

 

[Saif]

July uprising party: Discord brewing over member secretary post

With Adviser Nahid Islam almost certain to be the convener of the new political party being floated by the July uprising activists, differences of opinion have emerged among the leaders over the member secretary post, the second-highest role in the party hierarchy.

www.thedailystar.net

July uprising party: Discord brewing over member secretary post
Nahid, all set to be convener, may quit govt in a few days

With Adviser Nahid Islam almost certain to be the convener of the new political party being floated by the July uprising activists, differences of opinion have emerged among the leaders over the member secretary post, the second-highest role in the party hierarchy.

So far, Jatiya Nagorik Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwary, Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, Joint Convener Ali Ahsan Zonaed and Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam, and Students Against Discrimination Convener Hasnat Abdullah are leading the race for the new party's member secretary post.

Nahid, information and ICT adviser, may quit the government within four to five days, said sources close to him.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Nagorik Committee, the citizens' platform launched after the uprising, is now split into three groups over the top posts of the new political party's convening committee, said insiders.

One consists of leaders of Students Against Discrimination, who had been previously involved with Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.

Those previously affiliated with leftist politics form the second faction and the third comprises former members of Islami Chhatra Shibir, at least three leaders of the civic platform told this newspaper, requesting to be anonymous.

The first faction within the Nagorik Committee is supporting Akhter, while Adviser Mahfuj Alam, who plays a key role in the policymaking of the Nagorik Committee, wants Nasiruddin to be the new party's member secretary, the sources said.

Akhter is facing opposition from the faction belonging to former Chhatra Shakti leaders as he had a "personal rivalry" with Mahfuj since the inception of Chhatra Shakti, the sources added.

On the other hand, the former Shibir activists are trying to bring Zonaed, former president of Shibir's Dhaka University unit and member of Jatiya Nagorik Committee's executive body, into the second-in-command position of the new party.

The leftist faction wants Anik Roy, former general secretary of Chhatra Union's central committee, in a key position.

"As the new political party aims to be inclusive, people with diverse opinions are part of it. Shibir wants its former leaders to take leadership roles. While the leftists initially wanted Akhter as a leader due to his long history of doing politics, they no longer support him," a member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee told this newspaper.

The civic platform has held a series of meetings in the last few weeks over the issue, but could not reach a conclusion as of now.

Sources said the Shibir-led faction demanded Zonaed as the member secretary of the new political party and at least four posts out of the top 10 posts.

They even threatened to quit Jatiya Nagorik Committee and form another organisation if their demands were not met.

As they did not get a "positive signal" from other key policymakers, the faction boycotted a meeting of the platform's central executive body at its office yesterday afternoon, the sources said.

Some student leaders were seen taking to social media on the issue.

"I joined the anti-fascist politics through Akhter Hossen. His love for the country and its people has always inspired us. On the Dhaka University campus, he has always stood up against the terror of Chhatra League without any hesitation. As a conscious citizen, I stand by Akhter Hossen. Don't conspire against anyone," Abdul Hannan Masud, the chief organiser of Students Against Discrimination, wrote on Facebook.

Mirza Galib, former president of DU Chhatra Shibir, wrote on Facebook, "The Nagorik Committee should have worked to create a unified political platform involving all the youth associated with the uprising … There should be proper participation of madrasa students and Shibir members … But unfortunately, it seems that the Nagorik Committee is failing to create a democratic and inclusive environment."

The Daily Star tried to reach Nasiruddin, Akhter, Zonaed and Sarjis several times, but they did not respond to phone calls and texts.​

 

[Saif]

We’re giving importance to people, not power: Sarjis Alam

Sarjis maintained, “You have high hopes. If we can’t fulfill those hopes, at the end of the day, there will be no difference between us and the past. There has been an uprising at the participation of student-people with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the helm. Killer Hasina has...

en.prothomalo.com

We’re giving importance to people, not power: Sarjis Alam
Correspondent
Narayanganj
Published: 16 Feb 2025, 22: 41

Jatiya Nagorik Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam addresses the meeting at Royal Resort in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj on 16 February 2025 Prothom Alo

The student-people do not aspire for power. If they were power-oriented and had taken a decision to form a government on 5 August (2024), no political party of Bangladesh had the audacity to speak against the step.

Jatiya Nagorik Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam made the remarks while addressing a meeting to exchange views at a programme titled, New Bangladesh in Your Eyes, at Royal Resort in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj Sunday afternoon.

He further said they spoke with the top leadership of all the political parties immediately after their victory was ensured on 5 August.

This one of the top leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement of that time informed the discussion that the advisors of the incumbent interim government were chosen based on opinions of all the stakeholders of the anti-fascist uprising. “Even today we are giving importance to the people, not power.”

Sarjis maintained, “You have high hopes. If we can’t fulfill those hopes, at the end of the day, there will be no difference between us and the past. There has been an uprising at the participation of student-people with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the helm. Killer Hasina has left the country in fear. But this killer Hasina and some of her beneficiaries have been instigating from abroad.”

“Many have been doing politics under banners of different political platforms. The time has come for you to know your leaders; whom you have got by you in the hard times and who had capitalised benefits hiding abroad at different times. There were many leaders of different political parties in the last 16 years whom you did not find. But now they have been giving their blessings to you in different forms in this new Bangladesh. They will flee again on time,” Sarjis said.

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee chief organiser also insisted on unity to stop toll collection, syndicate in business and illegal occupancy.

He also spoke about receiving information that a few political parties, who were in the anti-fascist movement, have been providing shelter to the killers in exchange of money and other benefits.

Sarjis also talked about getting information that some of the police officials and judges have been entertaining the former killers.

He urged all not to follow anyone blindly, rather criticise everyone rationally.

Remarking that the coming election must be the best and most transparent elections in the history of Bangladesh, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee leader said, “We will have no objections even if any party wins in all 300 constituencies and no one else gets even one seat. But there should be an election keeping the aspirations of the mass uprising ahead.”

He also warned that the polling centre where any power or quarter tries to exert its influence would turn into the centre of another mass uprising.

Sarjis insisted that the post-uprising new political party will be open to people of all age, religion, opinion, and class.

“Our most important task at this moment is to form a new party. We have asked our fellow fighter in the mass uprising, Nahid Islam, to take an important responsibility abdicating power. But let me clear one thing, there are many quarters in different sectors, including the media, who have been spreading information giving certain party posts to certain people to break our unity. There could be dissents among us; but there will be no division among us regarding the party and the country. No post will determine the march of our future Bangladesh,” he stressed.

Sonargaon upazila units of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement jointly organised the meeting.​

 

[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.​