Student-led political party: Nahid's name confirmed, views split on second position

Highlights:

• Announcement of new party likely a day before or after 25 Feb 
• Nahid Islam finalised as convener of upcoming party
• Disagreements remain over the general secretary position  
• Rumours of two separate parties dismissed
• Former Shibir members dissatisfied with decision making
• Preparatory committee formed 

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement today finalised Nahid Islam's name as the convener of the upcoming political party. However, disagreements have arisen regarding the selection of the member secretary.

Sources said a faction within the Nagorik Committee prefers Ali Ahsan Junaid, former president of DU unit Islami Chhatra Shibir, for the general secretary role, while others want Akhtar Hossain, Nasiruddin Patwari, or Sarjis Alam.

Ariful Islam Adib, joint convener of the Nagorik Committee, after a meeting of the two student platforms today, told The Business Standard that Nahid's resignation from the advisory council to become the convener is confirmed.

"However, the debate over the general secretary's position remains unresolved, with names like Junaid, Akhtar, Patowary, and Sarjis still under consideration," he added. 

Adib also dismissed rumours of two separate political parties forming, assuring that the new party formation will follow a democratic process, with a forum involving the two student platforms and other stakeholders. 

The final announcement of the party will be made before or after 25 February, he said.

Meanwhile, several former Chhatra Shibir members now in the Nagorik Committee expressed concerns to TBS over a lack of clarity following their general meeting today.  

They said it was not clarified how members would transition into a political party, as many were recruited with that promise but now face uncertainty despite bringing in hundreds of supporters.  

There are also questions over student representatives resigning from the advisory council, along with calls for greater financial transparency. They also criticised key decisions being made without proper discussion.

The meeting

Samantha Sharmin, spokesperson of the Nagorik Committee, after the meeting told TBS that they had discussed the date for announcing the party formation.

"We have discussed a possible date. There was a general meeting today as well. A preparatory committee in this regard is being formed and it will be announced soon," she said.

Regarding the ongoing discussions on the new party on social media, she said the Nagorik Committee was formed with people of different opinions. It was a laboratory for reconciliation.

"There are differences of opinion among different groups on the formation of the new party. However, discussing those differences of opinion on Facebook shows organisational shortsightedness," she added.

Regarding the possibility of forming two parties in this situation, Samantha said everyone has the right to form a party and it is not illegal to do so and there is no reason to blame anyone for this.

"However, the people expect that there will be only one pro-uprising party to usher in a new political settlement in the country," she added.

She further said the new party may take inspiration from Turkey's AK Party led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf led by Imran Khan, and India's Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal.  

Commenting on the party's ideology, Nagorik Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwari earlier told the media that it would be a centrist party, free from rigid ideological divides. 

The focus, he said, would be on fostering unity and standing in solidarity with those who have suffered or lost their lives in the struggle for justice. 

Politically, this unity would translate into a strong street movement demanding the cancellation of the ruling Awami League's registration before the next election, he said.