- विज्ञापन -
Dhaka: A student group in Bangladesh that played a pivotal role in the uprising which led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year is set to establish a new political party this Friday. Key leader Nahid Islam has stepped down from Muhammad Yunus’s interim government to spearhead the new party, which will be officially launched with a “grand rally” at Manik Mia Avenue, near the parliament in Dhaka.
Samanta Shermeen, the spokesperson for the Jatio Nagorik Committee, a platform for the student group, stated that new hopes and aspirations have emerged in Bangladesh following the July 2024 uprising. According to her, the students recognized that the current ideologies of existing political parties do not reflect the interests of all citizens. She emphasized their intention to transform Bangladesh into a “modern and significant country” within South Asia.
Shermeen pointed out that for the past 53 years, Bangladesh has endured state oppression, with state institutions being compromised and utilized for partisan and personal agendas. She asserted, “The people of Bangladesh have certain rights,” and that their political vision will center around rights-based and service-oriented politics, inclusive of all citizens.
The August 2024 student-led movement resulted in the downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following weeks of protests and violence that led to an unofficial UN report estimating around 1,400 fatalities. After Hasina’s departure to India, an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was put in place. Shermeen clarified that Dr. Yunus does not associate with political entities like Jamat or BNP, but rather represents the uprising, along with his advisors.
On another note, former US President Donald Trump criticized recent USAID project cancellations, including a $29 million initiative aimed at enhancing Bangladesh’s political landscape, which he claimed funded an obscure firm. Shermeen asserted that Bangladesh’s international relationships should be founded on fairness and equality, advocating that any foreign grants or loans must not disrupt Bangladesh’s policies.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to visit Bangladesh in mid-March, amidst escalating political tension in the country. This visit is seen as particularly important given the current political and security climate. Concurrently, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman warned that the nation’s sovereignty could be at risk if people fail to resolve their differences.
