Jatiya Nagorik Committee (national citizen committee), a new platform, was launched on Sunday with an aim to build a new Bangladesh by restructuring the state and abolishing the fascist political system.
The new platform began journey to work for the fulfillment of the dreams of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement that toppled the Awami League-led government on August 5.
A 55-member committee of the platform has also been formed with Muhammad Nasiruddin Patwari as its convener, Akhtar Hossain as member secretary and Samantha Sharmeen as spokesperson.
The announcement was made at an event held at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital.
Syeda Akhtar, the sister of Ahnaf Abir Ashrafullah who was killed in Ashulia in the afternoon on August 5, announced the names of convener, member secretary and spokesperson of the committee.
On behalf of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement, Nasiruddin Patwari announced other names of the committee. The Jatiya Nagorik Committee will work as a pressure group to reform the state and eradicate the fascist political system, he said.
He also said that many cells will be formed with the members of the committee. He, however, said that it is not a complete committee, the extension of the committee will be done later.
“We will announce the full committee very soon. We will take it to the village level. We will work to thwart all conspiracies. Our spokeswoman Samantha Sharmeen will say anything about our committee’s activities. We will not take responsibility if someone else says something,” said Nasiruddin Patwari. In response to a question,
the convener of Jatiya Nagorik Committee said that it is not a political party. “We will work with people and all parties for a political settlement. We want to restructure the state. We want to make policy in the public interest,” he added.
Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said, “Hundreds of young people have sacrificed their lives for a noble cause. We want to fulfill their dreams. We want to ensure punishment for dictators and murderers.”
An eight-point goal of the ‘Jatiya Nagorik Committee’ was announced, which include:
(1) To uphold the collective spirit and democratic aspirations reflected in the student-mass uprising.
(2) To take necessary programmes aiming to ensure punishment of those involved in the brutal massacre of students and mass people.
(3) To create a framework of cooperation and accountability with the interim government to carry out urgent state reforms.
(4) To work with social, cultural and political organisations to integrate people from all walks of life through discussion, exchange of views and mass-oriented programmes.
(5) To continue resisting the fascist structures and forces with the aim of upholding the aspirations of the mass revolution by mobilising the social, cultural and religious leadership of the country at all levels.
(6) To organise thematic dialogues with people from different professions and expatriate Bangladeshis for the purpose of determining policies in favor of public interest.
(7) To make necessary policy proposals and take necessary political steps to implement them for restructuring the state institutions.
(8) To form a Constituent Assembly and conduct a public consultation for the creation of a new democratic constitution through a referendum.
In a written statement, Muhammad Nasiruddin Patwari said, “One party is obstructing the reconstruction of the state. As a result, we pledge to fulfill our civic responsibilities in order to organise the people who came down on the streets during the student-mass uprising, to simultaneously support and hold the government formed on August 8 accountable, and to play a role in policy-making for the public interest.”
“We think that the spirit of student-people uprising is the power to build Bangladesh anew. This new platform must achieve full victory through a stable and peaceful political settlement,” he added.
Nasiruddin Patwari further said, “By expanding this committee to the grassroots, we will consolidate the strength of the student-people uprising and work towards the reconstruction of Bangladesh.”
Other members of the 55-member committee: Ariful Islam Adib, Saif Mostafiz, Monira Sharmeen, Nahida Sarwar Chowdhury, Sarwar Tushar, Mutasim Billah, Ashraf Uddin Mahdi, Alauddin Mohammad, Anik Roy, Jabed Rasin, Md. Nijam Uddin, Sabhanaz Rashid Dia, Pranjal Kosta, Moinul Islam Tuhin, Abdullah Al Amin, Huzaifa Ibn Omar, Shrabna Shafiq Deepti, Sayak Chakma, Sanjida Rahman Tuli, Abu Raihan Khan, Mahmuda Alam Mitu, Alik M Shagufta Bushra Mishma, Syed Hasan Imtiaz, Tasnim Zara, Mohammad Miraz Mia, Md Azhar Uddin Anik, Md Mesbah Kamal, Ataullah, SM Shahriar, Manzoor-al-Matin, Pritam Das, Tajnubha Jabeen, Arpita Shyama Dev, Mazharul Islam Fakir, Saleh Uddin Sifat, Mushfique Us Saleheen, Tahsin Riaz, Hasan Ali Khan, Md Abdul Ahad, Faisal Mahmud Shanto, Mashiur Rahman, Atiq Mujahid, Abdullah Al Mamun Faisal, Md Farhad Alam Bhuiyan, Tanzil Mahmud, SM Souza, Md Arifur Rahman, Kaneta Ya Lam Lam, Syeda Akhtar, Swarna Akhtar, Salman Muhammad Muktadir and Akram Hossain.
Akhtar Hossain is the former social service affairs secretary of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU). He along with several other students founded a student organisation called “Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti” (Democratic Student Power) in 2023. Prior to this, Akhtar was involved with the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, led by former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, before branching off to form the new organisation.
The committee’s spokesperson Samantha Sharmeen is a former student of Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. She is recognized as a leader within the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Earlier on Saturday, a press statement was issued by the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement regarding the formation of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee. The statement mentioned that the sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs and thousands of injured and the participation of people have toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
The statement said that the ‘Jatiya Nagorik Committee’ will expand its activities to districts, upazilas and cities across the country. Their primary focus will be reform, with the committee serving as a pressure group to advocate for change.
