Dhaka, February 28 (Dhaka Tribune) – The Jatiya Nagorik Party (JNP) was officially launched on Friday in front of the National Parliament building on Manik Mia Avenue with recitations from the Quran, Gita, Tripitaka, and Bible. 

The party’s inauguration program kicked off at 4:20pm emphasizing a new constitution, a parliamentary election, and addressing the aspirations of the youth. 

The national anthem ( Amar Shonar Bangla Our Golden Bengal) composed by Rabindranath Tagore) was sung, and a one-minute silence was observed in memory of those martyred during the July mass uprising.

Thousands of people joined the procession marking the party’s launch, with attendees from the capital and various districts.

The new political party was formed by leaders of the Jatiya Nagarik Committee (JNC) and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM).

The party’s top ten leadership positions have been finalized. Former information adviser Nahid Islam is set to be the convener, while Akhter Hossen will serve as the member secretary.

Samanta Shermeen and Ariful Islam Adeeb have been chosen as senior joint conveners, while Tasnim Jara and Nahida Sarwar (Nova) will hold the senior joint member secretary positions.

Nasiruddin Patwary has been appointed chief coordinator, with Abdul Hannan Masud as joint coordinator.

Additionally, Sarjis Alam will be the chief organizer for the northern region, while Hasnat Abdullah will take on the same role for the southern region.

The party’s name was confirmed by Sarjis Alam in a Facebook post on Thursday. “Banners bearing this name will be raised across the country. Let Bangladesh resonate with this name,” he wrote, emphasizing that the party would uphold the spirit of the July uprising in its political journey.

Ahead of the party’s formation, students affiliated with the July Movement launched a new student organization, “Gonotantraik Chhatra Sangsad,” on Wednesday. However, the move sparked protests from a faction of activists who had also participated in the movement.

Neither pro-India or Pro-Pakistan

Nahid Islam, convener of the newly formed Jatiya Nagorik Party, declared that Bangladesh’s political landscape will not accommodate pro-India or pro-Pakistan influences. He emphasized that the party aims to rebuild the state with a focus on national interests and the well-being of Bangladeshi citizens.

Acknowledging the sacrifices of the July uprising’s student activists, the families of martyrs, and political leaders, Nahid said, “We want to talk about the future,” he said. “We want to move beyond the past and discuss the possibilities of Bangladesh.”

Regarding the economy, Nahid Islam said that the party envisions a self-reliant national economy without income disparity by ensuring a proper balance between the agricultural, service, and production sectors.

He reiterated the party’s commitment to establishing a just and equitable society. He firmly asserted that the July-August mass uprising was not just a victory against a fascist regime; it was also a pledge to build our future.

“Let us come together, hand in hand, to build a Bangladesh where the voice of every citizen will resonate, where the struggle for justice and human rights will be at the core of politics, and where equality and human dignity will form the foundation of the state,” he said.

From the stage, Nahid Islam made a resolute declaration: “From today’s platform, we take an oath—Bangladesh will not be divided.”

Following his speech, he proceeded to read a formal statement outlining the party’s objectives. The committee later distributed copies of this declaration to journalists.Sarjis: May we not betray this great responsibility

‘If we want to organize Bangladesh properly, all political parties must unite’

Sarjis Alam

Jatiya Nagorik Party’s Chief Organizer (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam highlighted the importance of remaining faithful to their responsibilities, saying that they must not betray the trust placed in them, despite the short span of life.

Sarjis Alam said: “If we want to organize Bangladesh properly, all political parties must unite. Then, the future Bangladesh will be a Bangladesh of unity. Hasina has destroyed all institutions of this country. All political parties must unite to restore these institutions.”

He added: “We must collectively ensure justice for the murderer Hasina. We should not go to police stations to seek the release of any criminals.”

He further said: “If the major political parties do not allow smaller parties to move forward, another autocracy may be established. We should learn this lesson from the murderer Hasina. Keeping the country and the nation above all, we must build a new and equal Bangladesh.

Pakistan envoy present but not the Indian envoy

Leaders from various political parties, including Ganosamhati Andolon, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the 12-party alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Hefazat-e-Islam, the Labour Party, Jatiya Oikya Front, and the Nationalist Democratic Movement, among others, are expected to attend the event.

The event is taking place on Friday, in front of the National Parliament Building on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, where the new party expects a large gathering.

Leaders from various political parties, including Ganosamhati Andolon, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the 12-party alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Hefazat-e-Islam, the Labour Party, Jatiya Oikya Front, and the Nationalist Democratic Movement, among others, are expected to attend the event.

Additionally, BNP Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Joint Secretary-General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee are also expected to attend.

The ambassador of Pakistan to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, was present but no the Indian envoy.

No ‘Joy Bangla’

In a clean break from the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman era and the War of Liberation in 1971, no one shouted the famous slogan “Joy Bangla” (Victory to Bengal). There were shouts of the Urdu slogan Inquilab Zindabad ( Long Live Revolution) popular in leftist circles in India and Pakistan.

The Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court had stayed a High Court verdict that declared “Joy Bangla” as the country’s national slogan. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order following a leave to appeal petition filed by the Interim Government challenging the HC judgement.

“‘Joy Bangla’ will not be considered as the national slogan following this Appellate Division order,” said Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque, who appeared for the government during yesterday’s hearing.

The apex court passed the order on the ground that the national slogan is a matter of the government’s policy decision and the judiciary cannot interfere in this issue, he added.

The government had filed a leave to appeal petition with the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court’s March 10 2020 verdict that declared “Joy Bangla” as the country’s national slogan and ordered the government to take necessary steps so that the slogan is used at all state functions and academic institutions’ assemblies.

On December 1 this year, the apex court stayed another HC verdict that justified August 15 as the national mourning day and public holiday.

The full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order following a leave to appeal petition filed by the government challenging the HC judgement.

On August 13 2025, the advisory council of the interim government took the decision that there would be no national holiday on August 15. It was on August 15, 1975 that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, and many members of his family were gunned down by a group of junior army officers. Only daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana escaped as they were overseas.

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