Rift emerges over member secretary position in youth's new political party

A growing rift over the leadership structure in a new political party, formed by student and youth activists, has sparked controversy within the National Citizens Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Students who participated in last year's mass protests are reportedly disheartened by the internal conflicts, while senior student leaders dismiss the issue as a natural part of political dynamics, seeing it as a sign of leadership maturity.

The party’s convening committee is set to be announced on February 24, with an executive committee to follow later. Sources confirm that Nahid Islam, the chief coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement and an adviser to the interim government, is expected to assume the role of convener. Nahid will reportedly step down from his current advisory position before officially taking charge.

However, contention has arisen over the member secretary position, the party’s second-highest post. The key contenders for this role include Nasiruddin Patwari, convener of the National Citizens Committee; Akhtar Hossain, member secretary and former social service secretary of DUCSU; Sarjis Alam, chief organizer; Ali Ahsan Zonaed, former president of Dhaka University’s Islami Chhatra Shibir; and Mahbub Alam Mahir, former Chhatra Dal leader and brother of adviser Mahfuz Alam.

A senior leader of the Citizens Committee, speaking anonymously, shared that this leadership battle has reportedly divided student leaders into three factions: left-wing activists, former Shibir leaders, and members of the anti-discrimination student movement—some of whom were previously associated with Chhatra Odhikar Parishad or Chhatra Shakti. Each group is vying to secure control over the position, further intensifying the competition.

Supporters of Akhtar Hossain, particularly from Democratic Chhatra Shakti and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, argue that his track record in student activism, political protests, and past arrests make him the ideal candidate. Key figures like coordinator Hannan Masud, Abu Baker Majumdar, and Abdullah Hill Baki have been openly endorsing him.

However, Ali Ahsan Zonaed, the former Chhatra Shibir leader, has garnered backing from Jamaat-e-Islami supporters, who are reportedly pushing for his appointment. The left-leaning leaders initially supported Akhtar but have since withdrawn their endorsement, raising concerns about the inclusivity of the new party.

Meanwhile, Mahfuz Alam’s faction opposes Akhtar’s appointment and is lobbying for Mahfuz’s elder brother, Mahbub Alam Mahir, to take the position. Some left-wing members have also shown partial support for Mahir, ensuring his influence in the party’s future leadership structure.

A senior member of the National Citizens Committee, speaking anonymously, warned that internal disputes before the party’s formal establishment could create instability at the grassroots level. He stressed the importance of democratic elections for leadership roles rather than personal favoritism, stating, "The real problem arises when someone believes they are the only qualified person for the role and refuses to acknowledge others."

Despite reports of factionalism, Samantha Sharmin, spokesperson for the National Citizens Committee, downplayed the issue, saying, "Disagreements in leadership selection do not indicate division but rather the depth of leadership within our movement."Regarding the new political arrangement, leaders say that over time, it has been established that the quota reform movement was formed by the top leaders of several student organizations, led by the anti-discrimination student movement.

These leaders left their previous political entities and joined the united movement. In line with this, they all formed a new platform, the National Citizens Committee, in September last year. One person who was not with the anti-discrimination student movement, but has been with it since the first committee of the National Citizens Committee, said that the worst thing is the re-introduction of tagging and the division in student leadership through it. He sees tagging as an attempt to destroy the identity that everyone had forgotten and came to a platform.

Another leader said that some members want two of the top four positions to be from their previous organization, whose activities are now suspended . But they should think about what the reaction will be among the common people and how much acceptance it will have. It would not be good to make the organization controversial in the beginning. However, the two pressure groups, the National Citizens Committee and the General Students' Movement Against Discrimination, are hopeful of bringing about a new political settlement by resolving everything. They said that a nationwide public opinion poll is underway on the formation of a new party from February 5. The new political party will enter the field in the light of public opinion.