Jatiya Nagorik Party: From Movement to Mainstream Politics

Nearly seven months after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, activists from the July uprising are set to launch their own political party today, aiming to become a significant force against various forms of discrimination.

Named Jatiya Nagorik Party in Bengali, it will be officially unveiled at a rally on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. The event, scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm, is being organised by the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, the civil platform behind the initiative.

The Nagorik Committee confirmed the party’s name on its social media page, clarifying that the English translation would be National Citizen Party (NCP).

The leadership structure has been finalised with Nahid Islam appointed as the convener and Akhter Hossen as the member secretary. Additionally, four other key positions have been confirmed, marking the formal entry of the party into the political sphere.

Nahid, a prominent figure in the student-led uprising, resigned from the advisory council of Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus earlier this week to join politics. Akhter, the former social services secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), is also a key member of the Nagorik Committee.

Both Nahid and Akhter were instrumental in the formation of Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti, a platform launched on October 4, 2023, which was dissolved two months later in September 2024 following the uprising.

Other prominent leaders of the new party include Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the Nagorik Committee, who will take on the role of chief coordinator, and Hasnat Abdullah, who has been designated as chief organiser for the south, with Sarjis Alam handling the northern region.

Hasnat is also the convener of SAD, while Sarjis is the chief organiser of the Nagorik Committee.

The leadership team was finalised during a meeting of the Nagorik Committee and SAD at the central office in Bangla Motor yesterday afternoon. According to sources, discussions are still ongoing regarding the position of senior joint member secretary, with several candidates under consideration.

Prominent figures such as Nahida Sarwer Niva, Monira Sharmin, Dr Tasnim Zara, and Nusrat Tabassum are reportedly in the running for this position. The new central convening committee is expected to be composed of 151 members, with an equal division between the Nagorik Committee and SAD.

Meanwhile, former leaders of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, who were part of the Nagorik Committee, have reportedly withdrawn from the party formation efforts following disagreements over leadership roles.

Although the top leadership will be announced at the party’s launch, the full committee is expected to be revealed in a press release shortly thereafter. Both SAD and the Nagorik Committee will continue to operate from their existing offices at Rupayan Trade Center in Bangla Motor, while the NCP will establish a separate office at a new location.

Preparations for the Launch

The activists are planning a large rally to mark the party’s launch, aiming for a massive turnout of 300,000 people. As of yesterday, workers were busy preparing the stage on the road in front of the south gate of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Leaders and activists from all units of SAD and the Nagorik Committee are expected to attend the event, with those from outside Dhaka instructed to park their buses at the old Trade Fair ground in Agargaon.

Sources from the Nagorik Committee indicated that leaders from various political parties, diplomats, families of the July uprising martyrs, injured activists, and expatriates who played significant roles in the movement have been invited. Additionally, individuals from various professions and sectors who contributed to the uprising, as well as students and the public who were actively involved, will be present.

The event will begin with recitations from the Holy Quran and other religious texts, followed by speeches from representatives of the martyrs’ families and injured individuals. A documentary on the uprising will also be screened.

In December last year, the student leaders of the uprising announced their intention to form a new political party and contest the upcoming general election. However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has voiced its opposition, stating that it will not accept any attempt to form a political party while the government remains in power. The BNP has also urged advisers involved in the party formation to resign from the cabinet if they wish to enter politics.