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CWA # 1605, 3 March 2025
Global Politics Early Bird
Bangladesh's New Political Party: Who, Why and What for?

  Souparno Rakshit, Emma Rose Boby and Souparnika Suresh

On 28 February, leaders of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee announced the formation of a new party - the National Citizens Party (NCP). 

Student politics has long been an essential factor in Bangladesh's politics. It began with the formation of the Chhatra League in 1948 by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. From the Bengali Language Movement to the liberation war, they played an essential role in resisting Pakistani aggression before Bangladesh attained freedom in 1971. Soon, student politics turned into a tool to advance political interests and specific objectives relevant to the government. The two major political parties in Bangladesh—the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party—started their student factions, the Chhatra League and the Chhatra Dal, respectively, giving them political and financial backing. 

Student organizations like Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti were formed in 2023 for student objectives like welfare and restructuring the state-political system, but later on they got dissolved after Hasina's resignation. The Students Against Discrimination (SAD) was another student organization that rallied the protests against the quota system. The Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JNC), which came in 2024, was a civil movement platform consisting of students, activists, lawyers and social media influencers. Their primary aim was the reformation of Bangladesh in line with the protests and demands of the youth—many leaders of the JNC are now members of the NCP. Several members of these associations became advisors to the interim government.

NCP: Who are the leaders and supporters?
The NCP leaders are affiliated with movements during the July Uprisings. The top leaders include the following.

Nahid Islam, the Convener, was pivotal in the uprisings against Sheikh Hasina and was the information advisor to the interim government. He resigned from the interim government to lead the NCP. He graduated from Dhaka University and coordinated student-led movements against government quotas in 2018. During the July Uprisings, he was detained. 

Akhter Hossen, the Member Secretary, was a senior of Nahid Islam in Dhaka University and was a key SAD figure. He was also arrested during the July Uprisings. He was also the convenor of the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.

Nasiruddin Patwari, the Chief Coordinator, was the Chief Coordinator for the Jatiya Nagorik Committee. Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam are the Chief Organisers and will overlook the Southern and Northern regions respectively. Others include Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmeen and Office Secretary Salehuddin Sifat.

Samantha Sharmeen stated that there will be a 151-member and said, "Representatives from various districts and upazilas, including those from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, will also join. The party's symbol and constitution will be disclosed later, and although the party's declaration is not finalized, it will be read at the launch."

Given that it is a new party, there is a lack of clarity on who their followers are. Their targeted audience seem to be those involved with the July Uprisings, followers, and members of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee. According to Prothom Aloo, a daily in Bangladesh, no one wants to see the old traditional party politics, so the new party stands a conducive chance. According to The Daily Star, the new party is a harbinger of new hope for the marginalized class of people, and if it remains uncorrupt and sticks to its vision of social justice and non-discrimination, it will become an alternative to the long-standing political duopoly.

What are the objectives?
Based on the statements and the literature in the public domain the following two can be seen as the main objectives as of now - a vision for a Second Republic, replace the failing political system of Bangladesh to ensure national unity over division and will help 75 million to attain justice. 

In the second republic, as stated by the party, "The common people—and only the common people—will be the supreme source of power." The party will also foster fundamental rights, preserve ethnic, social, gender, and cultural diversity, and work to prevent poverty, inequality, and abuse of power. The party forecasts a strong national defence system to safeguard the country's sovereignty and national interests. 

According to reports, the NCP will campaign for a self-sufficient, equitable, and sustainable economy by integrating agriculture, services, and industrial production sectors. The party pledges to prevent the concentration of resources among the elite and ensure the equitable redistribution of resources. 

To ensure Bangladesh's strong regional hold, the NCP plans to encourage and foster regional cooperation and international partnerships. They intend to develop a modern, technology-driven economy that fosters innovation and scientific advancement.

From 1971 to 2024: A brief background to Bangladesh politics
Bangladesh's political history since its independence from Pakistan in 1971 mainly involves two parties- The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. In 1990, the Awami League played a pivotal role in bringing down the military dictatorship of Muhammad Ershad. 

Later, in 1996, Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was elected to power. A decade later, in 2009, she became the prime minister again. Her reign was criticized for widespread corruption and lack of transparency. 

In the 2024 elections, Hasina ignored demands for a caretaker government, which led to the opposition party boycotting the elections. She won again the fifth time, but there were accusations of arrest of political opponents, suppressing dissent, extrajudicial killings and disappearances. The current round of instability started with initial protests when the court reinstated a law which allowed a 30 per cent quota in the civil service roles for the successors of veterans who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Most of these descendants had connections with the ruling party, which led to widespread contempt and protests, particularly by the youth. Hasina's accusation of the protesters "Razakaar" (a term used to call pro-Pakistan supporters in Bangladesh's War of Independence) and strong actions fueled tensions.

The Supreme Court then rescinded the reservation policy, but it was late. More than 600 lives were lost, four lakhs were arrested, and the Rapid Actions Force was accused of extrajudicial killings. The protesters demanded the resignation of the prime minister. Finally, to avoid the blood bath, Hasina resigned due to pressure from the military. On 5 August 2024, she fled Shaka and sought asylum in India. A care taker government was formed under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, a nobel laurate.

About the authors
Souparno Rakshit is a postgraduate student at Pondicherry University. Emma Rose Boby and Souparnika Suresh are undergraduate students at St Joseph's University, Bengaluru.

Also read...
"US aid cut in Nepal, the Starlink launch in Bhutan, TNLA-Military Negotiations in Myanmar and India-Bangladesh tensions," NIAS South Asia Brief, 24 February 2025

"Student Protests against Social Media Bill in Nepal, Rescue from Scam Centres in Myanmar, Violence in Bangladesh and Adani’s Exit in Sri Lanka," NIAS South Asia brief, 17 February 2025
 

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