Bangladesh students who ousted Hasina form National Citizen Party

The students’ group that led the protests against Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina launched itself as a political party on Friday, declaring there will be no room now for pro-India and pro-Pakistan politics in the country.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement or Students against Discrimination (SAD) turned into ‘Jatiya Nagorik Party’ or National Citizen Party (NCP) at a rally at Manik Mia Avenue in central Dhaka with one of the key leaders of the July-August uprising, Nahid Islam, as its convenor.

The student leaders also issued a declaration at the event, which was attended by representatives of some political parties and envoys of the Vatican and Pakistan.

The student movement led a mass protest leading to the ouster of Hasina’s over 15 years of rule on August 5 last year. Three days later, Muhammd Yunus assumed charge as the Chief Adviser of the Interim government.

The NCP’s inaugural rally began with a recitation from the Quran, the Bhagwad Gita, the Bible and the Tripitaka, followed by the national anthem..

“We want to talk about the future,” Islam said. “We want to move beyond the past and discuss the possibilities of Bangladesh.” The party would be “solely Bangladesh-oriented,” he added.