Nearly seven months after ousting Sheikh Hasina, the activists of the July uprising are all set to launch a party of their own today, aiming to emerge as a formidable political force against all forms of discriminations.

Styled the Jatiya Nagorik Party in Bangla, it will be unveiled at a rally on the capital's Manik Mia Avenue. The event, slated to begin at 3:00pm, is being organised by the Students Against Discrimination and its platform for citizens, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

The Nagorik Committee confirmed the party's name on its Facebook page, stating that it would be translated into English as National Citizen Party with the abbreviation NCP.

The leadership lineup has also been finalised with Nahid Islam as the convener and Akhter Hossen as the member secretary. Four other key positions have been finalised, paving the way for the party's formal entry into the political landscape.

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A legacy of movements

Nahid, who was instrumental in the student-led uprising, resigned from Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus's council of advisers on Tuesday to join politics. 

Akhter, former social services secretary of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu), is the member secretary of the Nagorik Committee.

Akhter and Nahid were convener and member secretary respectively of Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti, a platform launched on October 4, 2023, and dissolved on September 14 last year, two months after the uprising.

Additionally, Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the Nagorik Committee, will hold the chief coordinator's post in the new party while Hasnat Abdullah will be designated as the chief organiser (south) and Sarjis Alam as chief organiser (north).

Hasnat is the convener of SAD and Sarjis is the chief organiser of the Nagorik Committee.

At least three Nagorik Committee leaders involved in the formation of the party confirmed the key leadership positions to The Daily Star.

Samanta Shermeen, spokesperson for the Nagorik Committee, is almost certain to become senior joint convener of the new party.

Also, Abdul Hannan Masud, chief organiser of SAD, will be named joint coordinator of NCP.

Saleh Udddin Sifat, a co-spokesperson for the Nagorik Committee, is nearly confirmed as NCP's office secretary.

These decisions were made during a joint meeting of the Nagorik Committee and SAD at the former's central office in the capital's Bangla Motor yesterday afternoon.

According to meeting sources, the position of senior joint member secretary was not finalised as multiple contenders were being considered.

The names of Nagorik Committee members Nahida Sarwer Niva, Monira Sharmin and Dr Tasnim Zara; and SAD executive committee member Nusrat Tabassum are being discussed.

The central convening committee is likely to be a 151-member body divided equally between the Nagorik Committee and SAD.

Former Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders in the Nagorik Committee withdrew from the initiative to form the party amid a discord over leadership positions.

Sources in the Nagorik Committee said the top leadership of the party will be announced at the launch while the full-fledged committee is likely to be announced through a press release later.

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All eyes on Manik Mia Avenue as Jatiya Nagorik Party launches tomorrow

Both SAD and the Nagorik Committee will remain active after the launch of the party. The two platforms will continue to operate from their existing offices at Rupayan Trade Center in Bangla Motor.

NCP will have a separate office at a different location.

PREPARATIONS

The uprising activists are planning to hold a mammoth rally to mark the launch. Leaders of the two platforms said they are aiming for a massive turnout of 3 lakh people.

Yesterday, workers were preparing the stage on the road in front of the south gate of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Leaders and activists of all the units of SAD and the Nagorik Committee will attend the event.

Those from outside Dhaka have been asked to park their buses at the old Trade Fair ground in Agargaon.

Nagorik Committee insiders said leaders from various political parties, diplomats, families of the martyrs of the mass uprising, injured activists, and representatives of expatriates who played significant roles in the movement have been invited to the event.

Additionally, oppressed individuals from various classes and professions who contributed to the backdrop of the mass uprising, as well as students and the public who actively participated in the July 2024 movement, will also attend the ceremony.

The event will begin with recitations from the Holy Quran and other religious scriptures.

Representatives from the families of the July uprising martyrs and injured individuals will deliver speeches afterwards.

A documentary on the uprising will also be screened at the event.

In December last year, student leaders of the uprising announced their plan to form a new political party and contest the next general election.

Later, the BNP stated that it would not accept any attempt to form a political party while remaining in power. It urged advisers involved in the formation of the new party to resign from the cabinet if they intended to enter politics.