New political platform United People's Bangladesh debuts

A new political platform named United People's Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh) has been launched, coordinated by activists involved in the July mass uprising.

The formal announcement was made today at 4:30pm at the Central Shaheed Minar by the organisation's convener, Ali Ahsan Junaid. An 82-member central committee was also introduced during the event.

Arefin Muhammad Hizbullah was named member secretary, Rafe Salman Rifat as chief coordinator, Nayeem Ahmed as chief organiser, and Shahreen Ira as spokesperson.

Participants from various regions, including Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Gazipur, along with family members of those injured or killed during the July movement, attended the launch.

Ali Ahsan Junaid stated that the new platform would focus on four key issues: building a Bangladesh free from fascism, dominance, religious bigotry, and corruption.

"This political platform of ours is centred around July. We are taking an oath today based on the oath of July. Our oath to the families of the martyrs is that realising their dreams will be our politics. We will not do any other politics," he said.

He described the platform as a political pressure group, formed in response to the growing irrelevance of the July uprising and the frustration among the people.

"If we cannot carry the uprising forward, then what we have understood as new politics will not mature. A platform is needed to uphold the spirit and demands of July. We want to take a practical stance against dominance," he said.

Junaid outlined the platform's immediate goals, which include building public opinion and political movements demanding justice for the Pilkhana, Shapla, and July massacres, banning the Awami League, and ensuring financial independence for the injured and bereaved families of July.

He also mentioned long-term objectives such as transforming Bangladesh's political culture, promoting ethical leadership, ensuring social justice and dignity, providing social security, and creating a new political and economic framework free from muscle power, corruption, and criminalisation.

The event opened with a speech by the father of July martyr Osman Patwari, who expressed frustration with the government's actions.

"Looking at what the government is doing regarding the trial of the killers, it seems the government is mocking us. The killers are roaming freely, and our hearts will only be calmed when the Awami League is banned," he said.

Ali Ahsan Junaid and Rafe Salman Rifat were formerly in the central leadership of the National Citizen Party (NCP) but resigned in March. At the time, they announced plans to launch a new platform centred on the July uprising. The name UP Bangladesh was publicly disclosed on 10 April.