Wikipedia

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti

(Redirected from Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad)

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti (formerly Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad) is a student organisation in Bangladesh. It was launched on 26 February 2025.[5][6][7] The organisation is affiliated to the student wing of the National Citizen Party, due to the ideological similarities between the two organizations.

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti
জাতীয় ছাত্রশক্তি
PresidentZahid Ahsan[1]
Secretary GeneralAbu Baker Majumder[2]
Founded26 February 2025; 15 months ago (2025-02-26)
Preceded byStudents Against Discrimination
Gonotantrik Chhatra Shakti
HeadquartersMadhur Canteen, University of Dhaka
IdeologyReformism[3]
PositionCentre[4]
Colours  Green
National affiliationNational Citizen Party
SloganInquilab Zindabad
Flag

History

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Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad flag waving in the launching ceremony of National Citizen Party

After Students Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee started to organise a new student-led political party, a separate student organisation was planned as the party's student wing.[8] It was said that the student organisation could be formed 3–5 days before the formation of the new party.[9] However, on 17 February, former coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination, Abdul Kader and Abu Baker Mazumder, announced at a press conference held at the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University that the student organisation would be independent of any political party.[10] Abdul Kader, former central coordinator of the organisation, stated that upon hearing the news of the new political party, they felt the need to form a student organisation that would be able to fill the vacuum in student politics caused by the absence of Chhatra League. According to Kader, if any political party offers or works in line with the spirit of July Uprising, the organisation will support that party.[11] Although the student organisation is said to be independent from the party, there are ideological similarities between the two and it is believed that the new student organisation could function as the student wing of the party.[12]

According to a report of Desh Rupantor on 23 February, the new student organisation was said to have debuted the next day at Madhur Canteen with the name Biplobi Chhatra Shakti (lit. 'Revolutionary Student Power') with a 251-member committee. The report also stated that only students aged under-28 would be allowed to join the organisation, whose financial needs would be met through contributions from party members. It was also reported that the organisation would follow a democratic method of electing leaders from the grassroots. Abdul Kader stated that anyone who wanted to hold any position in the new student organisation would have to leave Students Against Discrimination.[13]

Founding as Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad (2025)

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On 26 February 2025, the new student organisation with the name Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad was formally established with Mazumder as its convener, Zahid Ahsan as the member secretary, Tahmid Al Mudassir as the chief organiser, and Ashrefa Khatun as the spokesperson.[14][15][16]

On the day of its launch, students from various private universities, including North South University, East West University, and BRAC University, alleged discrimination in securing leadership positions within the new student organisation. This led to a clash between two factions over the issue in Madhur Canteen at campus of University of Dhaka and private university students blocked Shahbagh-bound lane in Bangla Motor, Dhaka near office of Students Against Discrimination. 10 people were injured in the clashes.[17][18][19]

On the next day, a 205-member full central committee of Chhatra Sangsad was announced. Senior Joint Member Secretary Rifat Rashid resigned that day.[20][21][22]

Renaming and NCP affiliation (October 2025)

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On 23 October 2025, the organization renamed itself as "Jatiya Chhatra Shakti" and officially became affiliated with the National Citizen Party (NCP).[23] The renaming came after the organisation performed poorly in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election held on 9 September 2025, following which internal discussions led the NCP to propose a formal name change and open affiliation with the party.[24]

First council and transition to full committee (November 2025)

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Following the renaming, a first council of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti was convened, at which the organisation transitioned from its founding convening committee structure to a full central committee. In keeping with the convention under which the Convener of the founding committee assumes the presidency and the Member Secretary assumes the secretary-generalship upon the first council, Abu Baker Majumder became "President" and Zahid Ahsan became "General Secretary".[25] The organisation's central committee currently comprises 122 members, with branch committees established across several educational institutions.[24]

Leadership

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Founding convening committee (26 February 2025)

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PositionName
ConvenerAbu Baker Majumder
Member SecretaryZahid Ahsan
Chief OrganiserTahmid Al Mudassir
SpokespersonAshrefa Khatun
Senior Joint Member SecretaryRifat Rashid (resigned 27 February 2025)

Post-first-council central committee (from 31 October 2025)

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PositionName
PresidentZahid Ahsan
General SecretaryAbu Baker Majumder
Organising Secretary (North Region)Abu Touhid Mohammad Siam
Organising Secretary (South Region)Mohir Alam

List of presidents

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#NameTenureNotes
1Zahid Ahsan31 October 2025 – presentServed as Member Secretary of the founding convening committee (February–October 2025); elevated to President following the first council upon renaming to Jatiya Chhatra Shakti[26]

List of general secretaries / member secretaries

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#NameRoleTenureNotes
1Zahid AhsanMember Secretary26 February 2025 – October 2025Held the role of Member Secretary during the founding convening committee phase under the name Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad[27]
2Abu Baker MajumderGeneral Secretary31 October 2025 – presentPreviously served as Convener of the founding convening committee; assumed the General Secretary role at the first council[28]

Criticism

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In March 2026, activists of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti were accused of beating a student of University of Dhaka before handing him over to the police over alleged links to the Bangladesh Chhatra League.[29][30] The incident drew protests from student groups at the University of Dhaka.[31][32]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "NC Party announces committee of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, Zahid–Baker in central leadership". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 1 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "NC Party announces committee of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, Zahid–Baker in central leadership". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 1 November 2025.
  3. ↑ Laila, Nazam (10 February 2026). "Bangladesh election reveals a transformed political landscape". Chatham House.
  4. ↑ Chughtai, Alia (9 February 2026). "Bangladesh 2026 elections explained in maps and charts". Al Jazeera.
  5. ↑ "Bangladesh students who led anti-Hasina protests launch new party 'Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad'". The New Indian Express. February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "Clashes mar formation of new Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  7. ↑ "Bangladeshi Students Who Led Protests Against Sheikh Hasina Launch Party". NDTV. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  8. ↑ নাহিদ আহ্বায়ক, সদস্যসচিব পদে আলোচনায় তিনজন. Prothom Alo. 16 February 2025.
  9. ↑ নতুন ছাত্র সংগঠনে কারা থাকবেন?. The Business Standard. 16 February 2025.
  10. ↑ আসছে নতুন ছাত্রসংগঠন, স্লোগান 'স্টুডেন্ট ফার্স্ট, বাংলাদেশ ফার্স্ট'. Jaijaidin. 17 February 2025.
  11. ↑ Ali, Hasan (20 February 2025). নতুন ছাত্র সংগঠনের মূলভিত্তি হবে জুলাইয়ের স্পিরিট. Jago News 24.
  12. ↑ Babu, Tafsir (21 February 2025). 'লেজুড়বৃত্তিক' ছাত্র রাজনীতি নিষিদ্ধ চেয়ে এখন ছাত্ররাই কেন সংগঠন তৈরি করছে?. BBC Bangla.
  13. ↑ নতুন ছাত্র সংগঠন আসতে পারে কাল. Desh Rupantor. 23 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "Clashes mar formation of new Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Bangladeshi Students Who Led Protests Against Sheikh Hasina Launch Party". NDTV. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Scuffle mars launch of new student org". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  17. ↑ নতুন ছাত্র সংগঠন ঘিরে যা ঘটলো ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে. BBC Bangla (in Bengali). 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  18. ↑ "Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad calls for press conference this evening". The Business Standard. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  19. ↑ "Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad launched amid clashes over posts". The Business Standard. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  20. ↑ পূর্ণাঙ্গ কমিটি প্রকাশ করলো গণতান্ত্রিক ছাত্র সংসদ. Dhaka Tribune (in Bengali). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  21. ↑ "Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad: 205-member central committee announced". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  22. ↑ মারামারির ঘটনা তদন্তে কমিটি, রিফাত রশীদের পদত্যাগ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  23. ↑ "'Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad' rebrands as 'Jatiya Chhatra Shakti'". The Business Standard. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  24. 1 2 "NCP expanding, four organisations formed, two more coming". Prothom Alo. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "NC Party announces committee of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, Zahid–Baker in central leadership". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 1 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Jatiya Chhatra Shakti announces new committees, Zahid and Baker to lead central body". The Business Standard. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Jatiya Chhatra Shokti relaunches former title, forms new committees". tob.news. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Jatiya Chhatra Shakti announces new committees, Zahid and Baker to lead central body". The Business Standard. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "DU student beaten by Chhatra Shakti over alleged Chhatra League links". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  30. ↑ "'ছাত্রলীগ' অ্যাখ্যা দিয়ে ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থীকে ছাত্রশক্তির নেতা-কর্মীদের মারধরের অভিযোগ". The Business Standard. 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  31. ↑ "সাহরির টেবিল থেকে তুলে নিয়ে নির্যাতন, ঢাবিতে মানববন্ধন". www.kalerkantho.com. March 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  32. ↑ "পেটানোর অপসংস্কৃতি বন্ধ হবে কবে?". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-03-09.
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