A new political party, the National Citizen Party (NCP), will be launched today, led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizen Committee. The launch will take place at 3 PM on February 28, 2025, in the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue.
A new political party, the National Citizen Party (NCP), is set to launch today, February 28, 2025. The party, driven by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizen Committee, will make its debut at 3 PM at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka.
The party’s executive committee is expected to have 151 members, with a core committee of 24. Leaders from across the country, including Dhaka University and other private universities, are expected to be part of this new initiative. The party will also include notable individuals from various sectors, including doctors and engineers. Gender equality is a focus, with three to four women holding top positions in the party and a significant number of women members overall.
The National Citizen Committee posted on Facebook, affirming the participation of bold women leaders, particularly those involved in the July uprising, in the new political platform.
However, there has been internal controversy. Two prominent members of the National Citizen Committee, joint convener Ali Ahsan Junayed and joint secretary Rafee Salman Rifat, withdrew from the new party. Both were former presidents of the Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami. Their trip to China, invited by the Chinese Communist Party, sparked objections within the committee, leading to disputes over the secretary-general position. Junayed, whose supporters claimed the position, stepped back due to internal party tensions.
Nahid Islam, a leading coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and key figure in the overthrow of the Awami League government, has been recognized in Time magazine’s “Hundred Next 2024” list for his role in global leadership. At just 26, Islam is noted for helping to topple one of the most ruthless autocrats in history. His leadership and future role in Bangladesh’s political landscape are highly anticipated.
In response to his resignation from the advisory position to lead the new political party, Nahid Islam expressed his belief that his role should be on the streets, mobilizing the student movement and mass protests. He emphasized the importance of political forces outside the government to bring democratic change.
The Chief Organizer of the National Citizen Committee, Sargis Alam, confirmed that individuals who have endured over 16 years of oppression, along with activists from the July uprising, will be present at the launch event. Representatives from various ethnic, religious, and indigenous groups will also attend, marking the event as a significant milestone in the nation’s political history.
A total of 36 political parties have been invited to the event, though no representatives from the ruling Awami League or their allies in the 14-party alliance will be present.
Liberty News’ political correspondent states that coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud clarified that all political figures, including advisers to the new party, have been invited to the launch ceremony.
LND/BG
