Top leaders of UP Bangladesh (United People’s Bangladesh), a political platform formed by former Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders who took part in the July uprising, have joined the National Citizen Party (NCP), nearly a year after breaking away from the group.
They joined the NCP around 1:30pm on Sunday at the party’s makeshift office, along with several leaders from platforms including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party).
Among those joining are former National Citizen Committee (NCC) joint convenor and former Dhaka University Shibir president Ali Ahsan Zonaed, and former NCC joint member secretary and former DU Shibir president Rafe Salman Rifat.
Rafe Salman Rifat, former chief coordinator of UP Bangladesh, confirmed the development to Dhaka Tribune.
UP Bangladesh was initially formed as a pressure group following the July uprising, with no immediate plans to become a political party. Its leaders had said they aimed to uphold the spirit of the uprising and pressurise both the interim government and political parties to reflect that spirit.
The platform had also planned to advocate for the prosecution of alleged mass killings during July, as well as recognition and rehabilitation of injured individuals and families of those killed.
At the time, Rafe Salman Rifat said implementation of these demands would help preserve the spirit of the movement.
UP Bangladesh had earlier indicated plans to eventually transform into a mainstream political party after establishing organisational structures at district and upazila levels.
However, the group has now opted to join the NCP instead.
Before forming UP Bangladesh, many of its leaders and activists had expressed reservations about the NCP, citing “questionable or controversial” issues that led them to establish a separate platform.
They had also alleged a lack of fairness in the NCP’s formation process, as well as concerns over accountability and transparency in its financial activities.
“This whole thing (the July uprising) loses meaning if we empower another authoritarian force after removing one,” Rifat had told Dhaka Tribune earlier.
On Saturday, he wrote on Facebook: “May tomorrow mark the beginning of a beautiful new journey. Together, let us continue striving for a stronger and better future.”
“Wishing UP well. May NCP grow stronger,” he added.
