Student-led new organization set to form, free from ADSM
On Saturday, February 22, a crucial meeting was held among the anti-discrimination activists discussing the final steps towards establishing the new group.
A leader present at the meeting informed The Daily Observer that talks were still ongoing about whether the new student organization would be officially announced that day. The final decision would be disclosed once the meeting concluded.
The new organisation will be led by the same student leaders who played pivotal roles in the July Uprising. It is expected to adopt the slogan “Student First, Bangladesh First” and will focus on promoting visionary politics.
The movement is primarily supported by students who participated in the July Uprising, particularly those committed to shaping future political leadership through a shared ideology. Importantly, the new student group will remain independent of any political party and will not serve as a subsidiary wing for any political entity.
Although the full list of leaders for the new organisation has not yet been made public, multiple sources close to the ADSM confirmed that Abu Bakar Majumdar, the movement’s coordinator, will serve as the convenor.
Abdul Kader, another coordinator, is expected to take on the role of member secretary.
He said, “The name of the organisation has not been finalised yet, but the drafting of the constitution has been completed.”
Saidur Rahman Shahid, a student of the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Dhaka, is also involved with this new organisation.
In his words, “To understand the hopes and expectations of the student community regarding this new student organisation, we conducted both online and offline public opinion surveys. We received feedback from over ten thousand people, where they shared their aspirations, expectations, and even suggestions for the name of the organisation.”
Regarding the announcement of an independent student organisation, Shahid said, “The past few years have been a disgraceful chapter for student politics. Students were held hostage, the academic environment was disrupted, and many were forced into politics with the sole aim of keeping the main political party in power. The new student organisation is determined to erase that stain.”
Like the ADSM, the new student organisation will have four key leadership positions: Convenor, Member Secretary, Spokesperson, and Chief Organiser.
Speaking to multiple organisers, it was learned that Abu Bakar Majumdar will serve as the convenor of the central committee, while Abdul Kader will be in charge of the Dhaka University unit.
Previously, Abu Bakar Majumdar was the Member Secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Democratic Student Force, led by Nahid Islam and Akhter Hossen, while Abdul Kader served as a Joint Convenor.
Zahid Ahsan, the Office Cell Secretary of the ADSM, and Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury, a coordinator of the movement, are being considered for the position of Member Secretary in the central committee. Both Zahid Ahsan and Tahmid Al Muddassir are students from the 2018-19 academic session at the University of Dhaka.
Mahir Alam, a student of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Dhaka, is being considered for the position of Member Secretary in the university chapter. Additionally, a female student may be appointed as the spokesperson for both the central and Dhaka University committees.
Al Amin Sorkar, a student from the 2018-2019 batch at the University of Dhaka, is being considered for the position of Chief Organiser in the central committee. Meanwhile, Hasib Al Islam, a student of the Department of Sociology at the University of Dhaka, is under discussion for the role of Chief Organiser in the Dhaka University unit.
Multiple members of the ADSM told Daily Observer that the committee will be finalised based on mutual consensus. Only then will the official launch date of the organisation be announced.
Earlier, on Monday, a press conference was held at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen to announce the formation of the new student organisation.
Several other student leaders from the ADSM are also set to assume key responsibilities within the new group.
NR/MB
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