Talk of the country: Student-led new political party

Tea vendor Abdul Halim resides in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, running a small shop where he serves tea throughout the day. His profession brings him in contact with people from various backgrounds, engaging in discussions that range from law and order to criticisms of Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. However, in recent days, one topic has dominated all discussions—the emergence of a new political party led by students.

Abdul Halim told Views Bangladesh, “For the past week, almost everyone has been talking about the new party—what its name should be and who should lead it.”

Similar discussions are taking place in corporate circles. In the capital’s banking district of Motijheel, employees at company cafeterias are equally engrossed in conversations about the new party. Not just lower-level employees but even top executives are part of these discussions.

On Sunday, February 23, Views Bangladesh spoke with a senior official of Agrani Bank, who requested anonymity. He said, “After the events of August 5, there were endless debates about how the country’s situation should have been handled. Now, the primary topic of discussion is the new party.”

He added, “Just a while ago, I was discussing Nahid Islam’s party with my colleagues. Every political party so far has been more or less the same. Whoever takes leadership in this new party, we all hope they will be different.”

The conversation about the new political party has spread beyond Dhaka, reaching the country’s 68,000 villages. Sharaf Mondol, an auto-rickshaw driver from Bania Baha in Rajbari, said, “People are talking about students forming a political party. My passengers keep bringing it up. It feels good to hear about a new party emerging.”

According to sources, the new political party—formed by leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement and the National Citizen Committee—may officially launch on February 28. The top nine leadership positions have already been decided. Nahid Islam, currently serving as an advisor for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is expected to resign soon to take on the role of convener. The position of member secretary will be held by Md. Akhtar Hossain, former social welfare secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU). Other key figures in leadership discussions include Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Ali Ahsan Junaid, and Nasiruddin Patwari, with Samanta Sharmin and Anik Roy being considered for roles under the gender and minority quotas.

Sources indicate that the new party may officially announce its formation from the National Parliament premises. A 24-point manifesto has already been prepared, and the announcement could come at any moment.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the student-led uprising are planning a massive rally in Dhaka to mark the launch of the party. Reports suggest that over 100,000 people are expected to gather at Manik Mia Avenue on February 28, with representatives from across the country attending.

A source from the party stated that once the organizational structure and manifesto are finalized, a press conference will be held in the coming days to disclose further details.

Sources reveal that the party includes many individuals with no prior political affiliations. So far, committees have been formed in nearly 30 districts, four major metropolitan areas, and various university and college branches under the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. These representatives will also attend the launch event.

Initially, the party will operate with an interim convening committee, followed by a full-fledged committee formed through a council process. Though there have been internal disputes over leadership roles, most of these conflicts have been resolved. The party’s top four positions will be Convener, Member Secretary, Chief Organizer, and Spokesperson. Additional positions such as Senior Joint Convener and Senior Joint Member Secretary may also be created.

The following names are being discussed for these top roles:

Nahid Islam

Akhtar Hossain

Sarjis Alam

Hasnat Abdullah

Ali Ahsan Junaid

Nasiruddin Patwari

Samanta Sharmin (women’s quota)

Anik Roy (minority quota)


According to student leaders, the party will initially have 120-150 members, with 70 individuals already shortlisted. Leaders from the National Citizen Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, along with representatives from other organizations, are also seeking roles in the new committee. Due to the overwhelming interest, selecting leaders has been a challenging process.

Despite the widespread discussion, the party’s name has not yet been finalized. Several potential names are under consideration, with a focus on English-language branding. Some proposed names include:

National Revolutionary Force

Student-People’s Party

Revolutionary People’s Struggle Party

Anti-Discrimination Citizen Movement


Additionally, there is considerable debate over the party’s election symbol. So far, four potential symbols have gained traction:

Royal Bengal Tiger

Clenched Fist

Elephant

Hilsa (the national fish of Bangladesh)


Nasiruddin Patwari, convener of the National Citizen Committee, told Views Bangladesh, “We cannot confirm the exact date of our party’s launch yet. However, we had initially set February 26 for the announcement, and that remains our target date.”

However, Jatiya Nagarik Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam told Views Bangladesh that the announcement of the new political party will be made on February 28 at Manik Mia Avenue in the city.