New Delhi: The student movement in Bangladesh that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government after 15 years in power is all set to launch a new political party. The formal announcement of the ‘National Citizens Party’ will be made Friday, in front of the parliament building in Dhaka, ThePrint has learnt.
Spearheaded by the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JANAC), which translates to National Citizens’ Committee, the new party is committed to rebuilding state institutions with a focus on democratic principles and justice, NCC convenor Nasiruddin Patwary told ThePrint.
“We have taken bullets, we are now ready to face the ballot. This time, there shall be no more bloodbaths. We intend to proceed in a democratic manner,” Patwary said.
“Responsibility, not luxury” will be the central theme of the new party, with an emphasis on the importance of “compassion, responsibility, and justice”—especially for “those who have suffered over the last 15 years of turmoil”.
“Daye na thakle dorod hoy na (Without compassion, you cannot be responsible),” Patwary added.
Members of the party voted for key appointments Thursday, and they will be announced Friday.
The National Citizens Party, he said, will exert pressure on the interim government to ensure it is accountable to the people.
Though it was not confirmed yet, the party intends to take part in the next general election in Bangladesh. However if it doesn’t participate, it will focus on ensuring that whichever party comes to power is held accountable.
The student-led movement launched in July 2024 against public sector job quotas quickly transformed into a broader protest against the rule of the Hasina government. In August 2024, the former prime minister fled to India.
Days later, an interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, took charge. Yunus has said that the general election may be delayed until the end of 2025 or early 2026 because of the challenges in implementing democratic reform.
Also Read: Nahid Islam, face of anti-Hasina stir, quits Yunus-led Bangladesh govt to float political party
Focus on institutional reform
The idea for the National Citizens Party was first conceived on 8 September last year through a civil platform of the JANAC set up by protesters from the July movement, with a primary goal of institutional reform, Patwary said.
According to Patwary, the ideas of justice and institutional reform are deeply rooted in the legacy of the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence, when the desire for true democratic governance and accountability emerged.
The JANAC convenor said that, historically, Bangladesh’s political landscape has been dominated by dynasties that have neglected the importance of strong institutions. The new party will aim to fill these gaps by focusing on institution-building at both the national and state levels, as well as establishing think tanks and key civil structures—a key component of the party’s vision.
According to Bangladeshi writer Ahmede Hussain, the formation of the new party marks a crucial development in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
“After 15 years of Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, Bangladesh is in dire need of a new political settlement. The formation of this new political party, while an important step, is still just a small move toward a much-needed long-term transformation,” Hussain told ThePrint.
He said that, for decades, Bangladesh’s politics revolved around two dominant dynasties—the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, and the BNP, led by Khaleda Zia.
“For the first time in the country’s history, a major political party is being established outside the control of the Mujib-Zia family. This new movement is driven by a group of young people who led the Gen-Z revolution just six months ago.”
No involvement of Jamaat in leadership
A key concern during the formation of the National Citizens Party had been the involvement of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Shibir.
However, the leadership of the new political party was adamant that no members from the two would be included in the core committee, establishing a clear distinction from previous political movements that sought to reform Islamist factions. This stance has been emphasised as a critical differentiator from past attempts to reshape the political landscape in Bangladesh.
For instance, a few years ago, the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), formed by former Jamaat members and Left-wing activists failed to become a dominant political force after Jamaat activists attempted to take over its leadership. Ultimately, the former Jamaat members left the party when they realised they could not assert control.
The leadership of the JANAC was keen to avoid a similar fate, fearing Jamaat would infiltrate the new party.
Ideologically, the party will be Centrist, which, while incorporating elements from both Left and Right ideologies, will firmly stand against extremist factions such as the Jamaat. “Those from the Jamaat said that they wanted the party to be centre-Right, which we did not agree to, hence, they chose to not join us,” Patwary told ThePrint.
Ali Ahsan Junayed, a former president of Shibir who joined the Nagorik Committee after the July uprising, and Rafay Salman Rifat, another former Shibir president from Dhaka University, sought leadership positions but were denied.
“As former Shibir leaders, they had their followers and made considerable noise on social media,” a person familiar with the development said. “But their claims for leadership roles were disputed due to their lack of contributions to the movement.”
As the new party is formally announced, no visible members from Jamaat or Shibir are expected to be involved in its leadership. “We can’t say for certain if someone who used to be affiliated with Jamaat has joined just to gain some support, but it seems that no such figures are present in the leadership,” the source quoted above told ThePrint.
The new party’s focus, they said, is on advocating for a “new political settlement” that challenges the existing government structures, which many believe have failed to meet the needs of the public.
“The July uprising saw many people across Dhaka open their gates to protesters to protect them from police violence. The public rallied together in a mass upsurge,” said the source, talking about former Jamaat members wanting key positions in the party. “So, it’s unfair to claim sole credit for something that was a collective effort from everyone involved.”
Party formation and members
Instead, Patwary said, the founding committee of the new political party will be divided equally between leaders from JANAC and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Although the full list of committee members will be revealed gradually, key positions have already been decided.
Nahid Islam and Akhtar Hossain will serve as convenor and member secretary, respectively. Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah will be the chief organiser and spokesperson, Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo reported. Patwary was elected as the chief coordinator.
Islam led the July quota protests and was later a part of the interim government as information and broadcasting adviser, while Alam and Abdullah are SAD co-conveners.
Among those involved in the formation of the new political entity are prominent figures such as Bangladeshi social influencer Salman Al-Muqtadir and UK-based doctor Tasneem Zara, who is also expected to take on a leadership role in the party.
The party’s platform
According to Patwary, the party’s platform will emphasise the empowerment of youth, who, though passionate, often lack the necessary skills. The focus will be on upskilling and uplifting young people to become leaders and change-makers in the country.
Additionally, the party will ensure that women, whose voices have been marginalised in politics, play a significant role in decision-making. At the core of this vision is the commitment to ensuring that at least 30 percent of the central committee is made up of women and that the standing committee has strong female representation.
Democratic processes, including regular voting and accountability mechanisms, will be key features of the party’s internal structure, the JANAC convenor added.
The party is rooted in a commitment to reform. The focus will be on creating strong democratic processes that prevent bloodshed and foster peaceful change.
The party also recognises the urgency of addressing environmental and economic issues. Special attention will be given to the plight of coastal communities and the upliftment of workers in key sectors like business and garment industries.
The middle class, which played a significant role in the movement, will also be a focus, with a commitment to entrepreneurship, dignity of life, security, and small business support.
On foreign policy, the party will focus on the economy while maintaining neutrality. It will not align with any dominant powers, such as China, Russia, Pakistan, or European nations, but will instead prioritise fairness, respect for the land, and a non-dominating approach to business dealings.
Patwary said the party “appreciates the strong democracy in India” as well as institutes like Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and want to establish similar structures. It is also open to Indian businessmen coming to Bangladesh for trade as long as “Indians ensure a dignified and respectful approach”.
The party envisions a future where its governance is rooted in democratic principles, respect for human rights, and institutional strength, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or class, has a voice in the political process, the JANAC convenor added.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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Another joke
Just wait and watch. Another 5 years of development in Bangladesh history is gone.