Are Students Trying To Form A 'King's Party'

Recently, various groups in Bangladesh, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and  Jatiya Nagorik Committee, have become active with demands for the resignation of the president and the abolition of the constitution. In recent days, they have been holding meetings with different political parties, including the BNP. Following the emergence of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and C Jatiya Nagorik Committee, there has been much political discussion regarding the possible motivations behind their activism. Are the students attempting to form a "King's Party"?

Leaders of the uprising in Bangladesh are currently divided into three factions, each playing different roles. Three student leaders are currently in the government, while others are participating in various programs under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee. These leaders have also been seen meeting with different political parties. However, the three student representatives in the government are not publicly involved in these processes.

Discussions about establishing a new political party initiated by the leaders of the uprising began in September when the National Citizens' Committee was launched in Dhaka. At the same time, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement started making consecutive visits to various districts. However, the discussions about party formation are primarily centered around the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

Asif Mahmud Sojeeb Bhuiyan, advisor on sports and labor ministry affairs, stated that they are not trying to establish a political party.

“Look, where did this question come from about whether we are forming a party? This question has arisen because people want the leaders of the mass uprising to establish a political party. But to my knowledge, the students have not consented to this yet.”

He further stated that the concept of a "King's Party" involves various benefits being offered from different sectors of the government. If such a thing were to happen, it would have been visible by now. If anyone from the students or the Citizens' Committee wants to establish a political party, they have that right. However, we have been working from day one to create national unity and will not suggest anything that could obstruct the path to that unity.

Discussions about establishing a new political party were sparked with the launch of the  Jatiya Nagorik Committee in Dhaka in September.

During this time, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement also began a series of visits to various districts. However, the talks about forming a party seem to be primarily focused on the Jatiya Nagorik Committee. The organization has already finalized its organizational structure in various districts, and potential committees are prepared in most areas of the country, which could serve as a framework for a future political party.

But is the Jatiya Nagorik Committee genuinely going to establish a political party?

Nasiruddin Patwari, the convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said, “We want the power of youth, which has arisen through a process of fragmentation, to come to power in the future. The Jatiya Nagorik Committee will not directly establish a party to bring them to power. We want the BNP, Jamaat, or other parties to hand over power to the youth, as they have not rotted or made alliances with anyone.”

So what will happen if these parties do not bring the youth to power?

In response to this question, Patwari said, “Those who cannot embody the aspirations of the youth will not be able to come to power in the future. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee will work to obstruct their path to power and aim to bring a good person to power. If necessary, someone may form a party, but it will not emerge from this platform.”

(Information Taken from BBC Bangla)