2024-09-09 08:06:33
The National Citizens Committee made its debut with eight primary tasks, including upholding the collective will and democratic aspirations reflected in the student uprising.
On Sunday (September 8) afternoon, the 56-member National Citizens Committee made its debut in a ceremony organized at the central Shaheed Minar of the capital.
Activist Samantha Sharmin is the spokesperson of the civic committee. The convener is activist and organizer Muhammad Nasir Uddin Patwari alias Nasir Abdullah. Akhtar Hossain, the former social service secretary and convenor of the Democratic Students’ Union, became the member secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DACSU).
Syeda Akhter, the sister of Ahnaf Hossain, who died in the anti-discrimination student movement, announced these names. Swarna Khatun, sister of the deceased Raihan Hossain Saddam, spoke.
Among the primary functions of the Convening Committee are to undertake the necessary programs to ensure justice and punishment of those involved in the brutal massacre of students; Create a framework of cooperation and accountability with the interim government to undertake urgent reforms and restructuring of the state; Working with various social, cultural and political initiatives to mobilize people from all walks of life through discussions, exchanges and mass-oriented programmes; Continue the resistance against fascist structures and forces with the aim of upholding the aspirations of the mass uprising by mobilizing the social, cultural and religious leadership at all levels of the country; To organize thematic dialogues with people of various classes and professions and expatriate Bangladeshis for the purpose of determining policies for the public interest; For the purpose of restructuring the state institutions, making the necessary policy recommendations and taking the necessary political steps to implement them, and organizing public discussions for the creation of a new democratic constitution through a referendum by forming the Constituent Assembly.
Speaking about the initial work of the convening committee, spokeswoman Samantha Sharmin said, ‘Although the government of the student-people coup has been formed, the former fascist system is still active as a rival to the success of the people. The ruins of the oppressive state apparatus are hindering the reconstruction of the state at every step. As a result, we pledge to fulfill our civic responsibilities by mobilizing the masses who took to the streets through the student uprising, simultaneously supporting and holding accountable the government formed on August 8, and also playing a role in policy-making in the public interest.’
He also said, ‘The spirit of solidarity and resistance of the students’ uprising is the power to build Bangladesh anew. This new political community must achieve full victory through a stable and peaceful political settlement. Adequate prosecution of mass murderers, restructuring of state institutions, formulation of policies sensitive to public interest are prerequisites for a new political settlement.’
Samantha said, ‘The National Citizens Committee is starting work by forming a convening committee. Soon we will hold talks with social, cultural and religious leaders and people of various classes and professions who participated in the student uprising at all metropolitan, district and upazila levels. By extending this committee to the grassroots, by consolidating the power of the student uprising, Bangladesh will work towards the reconstruction of the state.’
Convenor Nasir Uddin Patwari announced the names of the members of this 56-member civic committee. At that time he said, ‘It is not a party activity or a party. We are all, we belong to Bangladesh. We will work to fulfill the aspirations of the students. Announcing the initial committee today, it will be expanded later.’
The initial members of the committee are -Student Rights Council General Secretary Ariful Islam Adeeb, Activist Saif Mostafiz, DHA poet Sufia Kamal, Former GS Monira Sharmin, Activist Nahida Sarwar Chowdhury, Sarwar Tushar, Mutasim Billah, Ashraf Uddin Mahdi, Alauddin Mohammad, Anik Roy , Javed Rasin, Md. Nizam Uddin, Sabhanaz Rashid Dia, Pranjal Konta, Moinul Islam Tuhin, Abdullah Al Amin, Huzaifa Ibn Omar, Shrabna Shafiq Dipti, Sayak Chakma, Sanjida Rahman Tuli, Abu Raihan Khan, Mahmuda Alam Mitu, Alik Mr, Sagufta Bushra Mishma, Syed Hassan Imtiaz, Tasnim Zara, Mohammad Miraz Mia, Md. Azhar Uddin Anik, Md. Mesbah Kamal, Ataullah, Mashiur Rahman, SM Shahriar, Atiq Mujahid Lawyer Manzoor Al-Matin, Activist Tanzil Mahmud, Pritam Das, Tajnuva Zabeen, Arpita Shyama Dev, Abdullah Al Mamun Faisal, Md. Farhad Alam Bhuiyan, S, M. Souza, Mazharul Islam Fakir, Md. Arifur Rahman, Saleh Uddin Sifat, Mushfiq Us Salehin, Tahsin Riaz, Hasan Ali Khan, Md. Abdul Ahad, Faisal Mahmood Shanto, Kaneta Ya Lam Lam, Syeda Akhtar, Swarna Akhtar, Akram Hussain and YouTuber Salman Muhammad Muktadir.