The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is currently focussing on solidifying the revolution earned through a mass uprising rather than floating their own political party.
Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the platform, which spearheaded the movement that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, said in a Facebook post yesterday that the purpose of the mass uprising was not to form a political party.
“Right now, we need to support the families of the wounded and martyred and preserve the spirit of reform, nation-building, and national unity. The students and the interim government will work towards that goal.”
He added that the abolition of the fascist system and a new political order were part of the one-point demand, and that requires significant effort and political initiative.
“We want to shape the future of Bangladesh through discussions and dialogue with the people…The students will act as a socio-political force to preserve the spirit of the revolution and the government will work towards restructuring the state in accordance to the people’s aspirations.”
The issue of the formation of a political party by the students came to the fore after Reuters yesterday reported that they were considering creating their own party to cement in place reforms.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Mahfuj Alam, who chairs a committee tasked with liaising between the government and social groups such as teachers and activists, said, “Right now we have no interest in forming a political party. Our focus for the time being is solidifying the mass uprising and assisting the government to sustain and consolidate.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Reuters, quoting Mahfuj, reported that the student leaders were discussing the formation of a political party to end the duopoly of Hasina’s Awami League or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of her rival Khaleda Zia.
This newspaper also talked to Nasir Abdullah, another member of the liaison committee, who said, “We will reach out to people from all walks of life. If the people of Bangladesh think that something new is required, then it will happen.”
He also said there would be propositions from their end to the people, adding, “If we want to end the chaos that had been prevailing post-independence, we have to start afresh and dream of a new Bangladesh.”
Hasnat Abdullah, another key coordinator of the platform, told this newspaper that they do not have any plans to form a political party as of now.
“The time for discussing the formation of our own political party has not yet come. We are now busy with those who are now in the hospitals after being injured in the protests,” Hasnat told The Daily Star.
