A new student organization has announced its formation under the slogan 'Students First, Bangladesh First,' with a mission to prioritize the rights of student citizens at all times.
Abu Baker Majumder, one of the key coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination movement, stated that the organization's main principle is to ensure that the interests of students are upheld in every circumstance.
Speaking at a press conference held at Madhur Canteen on Sunday afternoon, Mazumdar outlined that, in contrast to previous student organizations—which, he noted, have repeatedly failed to maintain their distinctiveness while advocating for student rights—this new movement will stand apart.
“Our approach will be independent and non-factional. We will steer clear of the traditional ‘Gonoroom,’ ‘Guestroom,’ and faction-based politics,” he asserted.
When asked about the nature of the new group, Abu Baker Majumder detailed several key proposals:
- Establish a middle-path approach that transcends the ideological and cultural binary conflicts.
- Create a student politics framework that is inclusive regardless of ethnicity, religion, or race, ensuring that no one is devalued on the basis of identity.
- Form a new political party rooted in the spirit of the July-August mass uprising, one that envisions itself as the builder of a future Bangladesh.
- Address the absence of women in mainstream political spaces by fostering a supportive environment for women’s political growth and ensuring equal opportunities for all, irrespective of gender.
- Uphold a steadfast and unequivocal stand in the pursuit of student rights.
- Ground the student politics in the legacy of Bangladesh’s historical struggles and independence movements, referencing the mass uprisings of ‘47, ‘52, ‘62, ‘66, ‘68, ‘69, ‘71, ‘20, and ‘24.
- Counter the deliberate political disempowerment in educational institutions during past authoritarian regimes by reviving the student parliament system as a cornerstone of democratic practice.
-Reinforce the unity between students and citizens to establish and safeguard their rights
He also announced that membership drives and efforts to gauge student sentiment will commence online today and continue offline tomorrow across educational institutions nationwide, with a special focus on the University of Dhaka and other institutions in Dhaka.
When questioned about the timeline for unveiling the new party, he concluded, “Once our membership drive and opinion-building efforts are complete, we will announce the name of the new party.”
This new initiative marks a decisive step toward redefining student politics in Bangladesh by prioritizing inclusivity, historical continuity, and the empowerment of student voices.
