I have resigned to be on the streets: Nahid
He is likely to become the convener of a new political party that will be launched on 28 February by the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JANAC)
Highlights:
- Nahid resigns from Advisory Council
- Cites need for a new political force
- SAD and JANAC to launch new party on 28 February
- Nahid like to serve as the convener of the new party
Nahid Islam has resigned from the Advisory Council of the interim government as the information and broadcasting adviser.
Nahid, who also oversaw the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, handed over the resignation letter to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus after an informal meeting of the Advisory Council held at 1pm today (25 February).
Later, he made the official announcement of his resignation at a press briefing in the capital's State Guest House Jamuna this afternoon.
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"Given the current situation in the country, the rise of a new political force is necessary. I have resigned to remain on the streets to consolidate the mass uprising. In addition to two ministries, I had to take on additional responsibilities...Six months is a very short time, and the people will evaluate the results [of my work]," Nahid said during the briefing.
Responding to a question, he said it is up to the Advisory Council to decide who will replace him. "The student advisers in the government will remain active in implementing the promises of justice and reform to which the government has committed," Nahid said.
Without mentioning the names, he said the two student advisers — Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and Mahfuj Alam — who joined the Advisory Council with him will keep serving the nation as part of the government as long as they wish.
"If they wish to enter politics, they will also resign and join," he added.
Mentioning that there were many limitations, bureaucratic complexities, a lack of confidence in the police, and shortcomings in the arrest of genocide perpetrators, Nahid said, "We hope the government will succeed in realising the aspirations of the mass uprising."
He was joined at the press briefing by Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Nahid is likely to become the convener of a new political party that will be launched on 28 February by the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JANAC).
Nahid had earlier indicated that he may step down from his government position to join a new political party if he feels that working directly with people is more important than serving in the government.
"There are discussions about forming a new political party. If someone wishes to join, it is not possible by retaining a government role," Nahid said in an interview with a television channel on 15 February.
During a press conference yesterday (24 February), SAD and JANAC leaders said they will launch their new student-led party at 3:00pm on 28 February at the Manik Mia Avenue near the Jatiya Sangsad building in Dhaka.
Details regarding the party's leadership will be revealed during the launch, as announced by the leaders of the two organisations.
Nahid Islam is one of the prominent student leaders who spearheaded the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July-August last year.
In the face of violent government crackdown, the movement later turned into a mass uprising that led to the toppling of Awami League (AL) government and forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.
On 8 August last year, Nahid, a former Dhaka University student, was sworn in as an adviser to the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
