In a significant development, a group of student leaders from the anti-discrimination movement is set to form a new political party, which will participate in the upcoming national elections. The announcement of the new party’s formation is expected to be made in mid-February. However, key decisions such as naming the party, defining its goals and objectives, drafting its constitution, preparing its manifesto, and finalizing the committee structure are still under discussion. The student leaders, who have spearheaded the anti-discrimination movement, are working relentlessly to finalize these details.

It is expected that Nahid Islam, the current Advisor for Information and Broadcasting, will resign from his position and take on the role of the new party's General Secretary. However, despite the formation of the new political party, the National Citizens’ Committee (JANAK) will continue to exist. The committee, which emerged from the July uprising, will continue its efforts to achieve its objectives. These developments were confirmed through discussions with key leaders involved in the process.

Speaking on the matter, Nahid Islam clarified that a decision regarding his resignation and the formation of the political party had not yet been made. On Thursday, he stated, "No decision has been made yet regarding forming a political party or resigning. However, I will not be part of any political party while serving in the government. The government is preparing for a July declaration, but it has been delayed due to BNP’s request for more time." He further emphasized that his aim is to lay the foundation for a comprehensive reform of the state structure, ensuring that no future government can pave the way for fascism to return.

The National Citizens' Committee, led by Nasiruddin Patwary as Convener and Akhtar Hossain as Member Secretary, was established in September last year with the aim of rebuilding the country through the collective strength of students and the general public. Since then, discussions about forming a new political party have been ongoing. According to sources involved in the process, the team is working on establishing a structured framework for the party.

Nasiruddin Patwary, Convener of the National Citizens' Committee, told Kalbela, “We are working towards announcing the new party by February 15. The tasks of finalizing the party name, creating the structure, drafting the constitution, and preparing the manifesto are currently underway.” He also mentioned that initially, a provisional committee will be formed, which will later be followed by a full committee through a council.

Patwary highlighted that the new party would present a completely new model, distinct from the existing political structures. "There will be no room for constitutional fascist frameworks. The new leadership will not walk the path of corruption, such as tender manipulation, extortion, or pursuing foreign agendas," he stated.

Regarding the name and funding sources for the party, Patwary mentioned, “As with the movements, we will prioritize the opinions of the people. We will ask the public for suggestions for the party name, and the final decision will be based on their feedback."

Regarding funding, he said the party intends to raise money through crowdfunding. “We are conducting research on various domestic and international forums to ensure that we can utilize them appropriately for our efforts,” Patwary added.

The main goal of the new party is not to seize power but to work towards the welfare of the nation. If the elections are held before the trial for the July-August killings, the party's priority will be to ensure that justice is served for those responsible for the atrocities.

Nasiruddin also pointed out that the new party may join political alliances. Discussions are already taking place with several groups that were part of the July uprising.

A central member of the National Citizens' Committee revealed that the formation of the new party is almost finalized. "Meetings are taking place daily, and we are making progress towards the announcement of the new party by mid-February," they stated.

When asked about the formation of the party's leadership, Ali Ahsan Jonaid, Joint Convener of the National Citizens' Committee, commented, "We are currently busy with the formation of the party. We are regularly meeting to finalize the party's objectives, constitution, and manifesto. We hope to announce the formation of the party by mid-February."

Regarding the roles of the Convener and Member Secretary, Jonaid stated, "Discussions are ongoing, but no names have been finalized yet for the leadership positions."

Rafi Salman Rifat, Joint Member Secretary of the National Citizens' Committee, further confirmed that the party would likely be announced between February 14 and 15. "We are gathering everyone's opinions, and there is much work to be done. Nothing is finalized yet, including the leadership or the name of the party," he mentioned.

A central coordinator from the National Citizens' Committee added that while Nahid Islam’s involvement in the new party is almost certain, other key advisors such as Asif Mahmud and Mahfuz Alam are not expected to resign from their positions. The leader also pointed out that several prominent figures outside the existing committees might join the new party’s leadership.

Another central member of the committee commented that even after the formation of the new party, the National Citizens' Committee will continue to exist as a platform, rather than as a political party. “The committee, which is based on the July uprising, has created two separate platforms: the anti-discrimination student movement and the National Citizens’ Committee. Both groups, along with a few other major organizers, are actively working towards the creation of the new political party," the source revealed.

The National Citizens' Committee is also engaged in studying the constitutions of various successful political parties formed through people’s uprisings across the world. They are reviewing the constitutions of parties like Turkey’s AKP, Pakistan’s PTI, and Indonesia’s Anna Hada Party, as well as other youth-led political organizations. Based on this research, they plan to draft their own manifesto while keeping the July uprising’s objectives in mind.

When asked about the party's first activities, one central leader mentioned plans for a long march from the residence of martyr Abu Saeed in Rangpur to the residence of martyr Wasim Akram in Chittagong. This initiative will be launched after the party announcement and before the start of Ramadan, with the goal of increasing public engagement and making their stance known.

Sources within the National Citizens' Committee revealed that while the party's name is not finalized, district committees, sub-district committees, and seven wing committees have already been established in most districts and sub-districts of the country.

Political analysts view the formation of this new party as a positive step. Dr. Mohammad Shahabul Haque, a political scientist from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), praised the initiative, stating that it could help fill the political vacuum left by the lack of internal democracy in existing political parties in Bangladesh. He believes the new party could offer a fresh perspective on political practices, with a focus on democratic principles.

Political analyst and professor at Daffodil University, Mohammad Burhan Uddin Noman, also expressed his support for the move, stressing that the youth-led initiative could bring about necessary changes. If the new party focuses on working for the people and moves beyond the politics of power, he believes it can be successful in addressing the issues that other political parties have failed to tackle.