Staff Reporter:
A new political platform, United People’s Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh), was officially launched on Friday afternoon at the Central Shaheed Minar of the capital.
“The platform aims to function as a political pressure group rooted in the ideals of the July Uprising,” its leaders said during the launch.
The platform has expressed solidarity with the ongoing NCP-led push demanding a ban on Awami League, and announced its participation in the ongoing road blockade at Shahbagh intersection to press home the demand.
Ali Ahsan Zonaed, a key figure of the July Uprising and former president of the Dhaka University branch of Chhatra Shibir, will lead UP Bangladesh, it was announced at the launching event. He has pledged to uphold the movement’s spirit, unity, and aspirations.
At the launching ceremony, Md Abdur Rahman, father of July martyr Osman Patwari, unveiled the 82-member central convening committee.
Zonaed was declared the convener, while Arefin Hizbullah was named as member secretary. Other key figures include Chief Coordinator Rafe Salman Rifat, Chief Organiser Naeem Ahmed, and Spokesperson Shahreen Sultana Ira.
Many leaders of UP Bangladesh, including Zonaed and Rifat, were formerly key figures in the Jatiya Nagorik Party, from which they resigned in March. The name of the new platform was first revealed on 10 April.
Speaking at the launching event, Zonaed said, “UP Bangladesh is starting its journey from a place of unity and responsibility. We reject dictatorship; we want democracy and a humane Bangladesh.”
According to the conveners, the group’s objectives include advancing the ideals of the July Uprising, reforming national politics, developing ethical leadership, ensuring social justice, and fostering communal harmony through mutual respect and shared values.
UP Bangladesh would be the latest in a series of political entities formed centring the July-August uprising. Earlier, leaders of the uprising formed the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Jatiya Nagorik Committee, Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad and National Citizen Party.
