The Students’ Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday said that they would announce the formation of a new moderate political party by February, following a week-long campaign titled ‘Apnar Chokhe Natun Bangladesh’.
The leaders of the platforms held the press conference at the central office of the Students’ Against Discrimination at Bangla Motor.Â
The press conference was held for announcing a week-long programme to gather public opinions to form a moderate political party under the leadership of students and youths.
They said that the campaign aimed to collect around one lakh opinions from the people of the country regarding the new political party.
They also urged the people of the country to propose names and symbols for the party, calling it a unique initiative in the country’s political history, where public opinion was being sought on such a large scale.
Students’ Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah said that the ultimate victory had not yet come despite the fall of the fascist Sheikh Hasina’s government.
‘We have only been able to bring down Hasina and Ganabhaban of the entire fascist state system. But we have not been able to eliminate the other elements of the autocratic system, so the people of the country are yet to achieve the final victory despite their long-standing struggle,’ he said.
He also mentioned that they had established a student-people’s government by overthrowing the Awami fascist government led by Sheikh Hasina. ‘Although we were able to overthrow the fascist Awami League, but the existing fascist elements in our state structure have not been completely eliminated.’
Hasnat Abdullah said, ‘Our points in the mass uprising were the elimination of fascism, the formation of a new political settlement, a new state structure, institutionalising democracy, and building a Bangladesh with equality, human dignity, and social justice.’
‘Our work remains unfinished,’ he mentioned.
He also said that the people of the country had always expressed their desire for a society and state system free from oppression and exploitation during the Pakistan period, the War of Independence and the uprising of 1990.
He said that a constructive moment has once again appeared before the people of this country in exchange for the blood of the students and the masses in 2024.
‘The new aspirations and state vision of the citizens of all walks of life, especially the young people, who participated in the uprising, have been created,’ he said.
Hasnat also noted that the existing political parties were showing their failure to capture them. ‘As a result, the students and the youths, the power of the uprising, have taken the initiative to form a political party with the anti-fascist people of the country, capturing the new aspirations and state vision.’
Hasnat mentioned that their political party should not belong to a specific class and should not become a specific ideology. ‘We are committed to making it a voice for all levels of the society.’
They also want to represent those who feel left out of the country’s existing political system. ‘We want to listen to all citizens; we want to embrace everyone’s aspirations.’
Mentioning that the people of the country want reforms, Jatiya Nagarik Committee convener Nasir Uddin Patwary said, ‘The people of Bangladesh have come to the movement of 2024. Through this, they wanted to build Bangladesh in a new form.’
He also added that the political party would be emerged under the initiative of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee and the Students’ Against Discrimination. ‘We hope to see the political party by February.’
Jatiya Nagarik Committee member secretary Akhtar Hossain and leaders of Students’ Against Discrimination were present at the event.
