The most anticipated political party of the youth, who led the anti discrimination student movement ousting authoritarian ruler Sheikh Hasina, will be floated on Friday (Feb 28). “The announcement of the new party will be made on the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad at Manik Mia Avenue at 3:00 p.m. on Friday,” Jatiya Nagorik Committee’s chief organiser Sarjis Alam told a press conference on Monday (Feb 24) at its head office in Bangla Motor in the city, local media reported.
Sarjis said, “People’s major demand in the new Bangladesh now is the formation of a strong political party as the countrymen were under misrule for so many decades.”
The unity prevailing among the students and people across the country, the fall of the fascist killer Sheikh Hasina, her fleeing the country, and the emergence of a new Bangladesh makes the demand stronger, he said.
“We believe that the dream of a new Bangladesh, which stands on the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs and the blood of half a million people, is a legacy we must pass on to the new generation,” said Sarjis.
“We want to continue the struggle. In line with that, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik committee are jointly launching a new political party,” he said.
Sarjis said, “We want to take this oath in front of the National Parliament, the symbol of the hopes and aspirations of the 180 million people of this country.”
For generations, this Parliament has not been a platform to fulfill the hopes of the people of Bangladesh, but rather a place for personal, partisan, and group interests, he said.
The parliament has been a breeding ground for autocracy for years, Sarjis said, adding, “therefore, we are launching our political party in front of the National Parliament. Here, the interests of the common people will be prioritized above, party, group or personal interests.” “We believe that Feb 28 will open a new chapter in the history of Bangladesh,” he said.
The event will be attended by representatives from various political parties, martyr families, local and foreign diplomats, expatriate Bangladeshis, Indigenous communities, and all those involved in the uprising, said Sarjis.
Jatiya Nagorik Committee Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said, “We conducted a campaign called ‘New Bangladesh Through Your Eyes’ asking people across the country for their opinions on several issues.
The main issue identified by the people is making a country free from corruption, he said, adding, people also demand good governance, where no one can misuse power, and accountability is ensured.”
“Social justice and equal opportunities for everyone were also highlighted. People talked about economic prosperity, reducing all forms of inequality, and creating employment to address the country's unemployment problem,” said Akhter.
The people have also demanded reforms in all state institutions and the creation of people-friendly policies, he said, “The people want the state institutions to become institutions serving only the interest of the common people.”
Nagorik Committee convener Nasir Uddin Patwary, Spokesperson Samantha Sharmin, Joint Conveners Monira Sharmin, Atik Mujahid, Chief Organizer of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Abdul Hannan Masud and Coordinators Tarekul Islam were also present at the press conference.
The leaders of Jatiya Nagorik Committee and Anti-discrimination Student Movement have been conducting a survey on people’s opinions regarding the new party since Feb 5. Opinions of people from all walks of life are being collected online and in various districts of the country. More than 300,000 people shared their views as of Sunday afternoon, the leaders said.
