Students plan to establish a political party by February

Student leaders who spearheaded the July-August mass uprising are planning to establish a political party by February 2025, with the aim of contesting the next general election. The envisioned party seeks to adopt a balanced approach, steering clear of leftist or rightist ideologies, while adhering to international standards and considering the realities of Bangladesh. Leadership will primarily come from the civic and student platforms—the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement—although these platforms will remain intact as independent "pressure groups."

Three top leaders of the platforms, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive planning stage, shared these details with The Daily Star. They revealed that the party aims to bring together leaders from diverse political backgrounds and civil society representatives. While the leadership of the two platforms will not directly control the party, some members may actively participate in elections. Those interested in transitioning from the platforms to the party will be integrated into its structure.

Both platforms are currently forming committees at district and institutional levels to strengthen their groundwork. On October 22, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement established a four-member convening committee comprising Hasnat Abdullah, Arif Sohel, Abdul Hannan Masud, and Umama Fatima. To date, the student movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee have announced 12 and 15 district-level committees, respectively.

The new political party plans to field strong candidates for the upcoming election, targeting prominent national figures capable of securing victories. Efforts are already underway to engage potential candidates in various constituencies. "Our strategy involves grooming leaders in each constituency to build a robust national presence," a senior Jatiya Nagorik Committee leader explained. The party will begin by announcing a central convening committee and then move on to district- and upazila-level committees.

The initiative aims to break away from the divisive politics that have defined Bangladesh for decades, focusing instead on agenda-driven policies tackling critical issues such as unemployment, economic development, and national unity. Leaders envision fostering inclusive political discourse centered on improving people's lives and ensuring job creation.

A leader of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee emphasized the party’s commitment to inclusivity, particularly for women, who make up half the population. "Active participation of women at all levels is essential for a truly functional democracy," he said. The party also aims to uphold democratic values by maintaining internal accountability. The Jatiya Nagorik Committee will act as a watchdog to ensure the party stays true to its principles and does not veer into authoritarianism or fascism.

New members joining the party must cut ties with any existing political organizations and critically assess the past shortcomings of those entities. Nasiruddin Patwary, the convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, clarified that while his platform will continue to operate as a civil society-based pressure group, there is growing demand for a youth-led political force in Bangladesh.

"The people of Bangladesh are looking for a fresh political force led by young leaders," he stated. "Our focus is on dismantling the fascist system and establishing a new political framework. To achieve this, we are building public awareness, uniting young leadership, and strengthening organizational structures through new committees."