The student leaders who spearheaded last year’s mass uprising that led to former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Awami League’s Sheikh Hasina, have now officially launched a new political party, the Jatiya Nagorik Party (National Citizen Party). This youth-led party, formed yesterday aims to rebuild the state with a focus on national interests and the well-being of Bangladeshi citizens.
The Launch of NCP
A grand stage was set up at Dhaka’s Manik Mia Avenue, where the launch of the NCP was attended by a massive crowd of supporters. The Dhaka Tribune reported around 300,000 people from all 64 districts, including students, political leaders, and family members of those who lost their lives during the July-August 2024 uprising. The movement, known as Students Against Discrimination, was instrumental in dismantling Hasina’s fifteen-year rule, culminating in her removal on August 5, 2024.
At the launch event, Nahid Islam, who had famously called for Hasina’s resignation a day before her ouster, announced his resignation from the Interim government’s advisory council to assume leadership as the convener of NCP. Other uprising leaders have also taken key roles in the party’s central committee, cementing its reputation as a youth-driven political force.
“We want to talk about the future. We want to move beyond the past and discuss the possibilities of Bangladesh,” Nahid Islam declared to the enthusiastic crowd. He emphasized that divisive politics—whether pro-India or pro-Pakistan—would have no place in the nation’s new political landscape.
Reaffirming the party’s stance, Islam read the party’s declaration, which traced Bangladesh’s historical struggles and the need for systemic change following the uprising. He denounced the former regime’s repressive policies, including enforced disappearances and rampant corruption, and underscored the party’s commitment to establishing a second republic through an elected constitutional assembly.
The event featured prayers from the Quran, Gita, Tripitaka, and Bible, followed by the national anthem and a moment of silence for the martyrs of the July uprising. Leaders delivered powerful speeches emphasizing the need for a functional democracy, an independent judiciary, and an end to dynastic politics.
Hasnat Abdullah, a senior party leader, vowed to eradicate family-dominated leadership structures, stating that political meritocracy should replace hereditary rule. He also emphasized that freedom of expression and tolerance for dissent must become foundational principles of the new Bangladesh.
Foreign policy was another major theme, with leaders asserting that while Bangladesh would maintain cordial international relations, governance decisions would be made solely by the Bangladeshi people.
The launch of NCP has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh’s political landscape. The party’s formation signifies a major realignment, with various opposition figures and organizations attending the event, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other smaller political groups. Representatives from the Vatican and Pakistan’s diplomatic missions were also present, highlighting the international interest in Bangladesh’s changing political dynamics.
Meanwhile, the country remains tense following the February 5 unrest, during which protesters demolished the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, coinciding with Sheikh Hasina’s virtual address to Indian students. The subsequent crackdown, dubbed Operation Devil Hunt, has led to the arrest of over 8,600 individuals, many linked to the ousted government.
A recent UN fact-finding report estimated that nearly 1,400 people lost their lives during the uprising and the ensuing violence, marking one of the most tumultuous periods in Bangladesh’s history.
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Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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