JCD braces for new committee as Rakib-Nasir chapter set to close

Party sources said the new JCD committee would be declared after receiving the final green signal from BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

On Thursday night, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held an urgent meeting with the five top JCD leaders at the chairman's Gulshan political office.

After the meeting, outgoing JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir posted emotional farewell messages on Facebook, signalling the end of their tenure.

Tarique Rahman, who is the organisational guardian of JCD, has reportedly collected names for the new leadership through secret ballots from the organisation's "Super Five", its five top leaders. He is expected to select the new committee after reviewing and verifying all relevant information.

The five JCD leaders who attended the meeting are President Rakib, General Secretary Nasir, Senior Vice-President Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahya, Senior Joint General Secretary Shyamol Malum and Organising Secretary Amanullah Aman.

Tarique Rahman praised the outgoing leaders for their sacrifices during previous movements and struggles and gave a clear message to the leaders to hand over to a new generation.

Seeking anonymity, a leader told UNB that the chairman had asked them for their preferred list of candidates for the new leadership. "We informed him through secret ballots. After verifying these and all other matters, he may clear the new JCD committee any time," the leader said.

JCD, which has long been considered the vanguard of BNP, has played a leading role in street movements.

In a Facebook post after the meeting, outgoing JCD President Rakib indicated that the end of his tenure was nearing.

"According to the rules, our necessity in JCD has ended, now it is time to give opportunities to the new generation and become involved in mainstream party politics," he wrote, indicating that a new committee was imminent.

Rakib wrote that the best chapter of his life was coming to an end in a highly respectful and cordial environment.

Expressing gratitude to the party for giving him the opportunity to lead JCD, he also acknowledged his own mistakes and shortcomings during his tenure. He expressed hope that everyone would warmly welcome the upcoming new committee.

Nasir, in his apparent farewell message, wrote that Thursday was his final day as JCD general secretary and that a long, difficult, eventful and glorious chapter was coming to an end.

"Naturally, at this moment of farewell, countless memories, struggles, successes, failures, joys, sorrows and, above all, the love of my fellow fighters, are appearing before my eyes," he wrote.

Nasir said they had gone through a difficult political reality since assuming office on March 1, 2024. The most difficult chapter of their tenure, he said, was the July-August movement of 2024.

Keeping activists active on the streets, encouraging them and involving every level of the organisation in the movement were their biggest challenges, he said.

"Today I am saying goodbye to a responsibility, but not to relationships, struggles or ideals," Nasir wrote, expressing hope that JCD would move forward on its own strength, through the love of its leaders and activists and on the basis of its ideals.

Rakib and Nasir have been in the helm of JCD central committee since March 1, 2024, three months before the formation and approval of a full 260-member JCD committee. The committee had to operate in a difficult political landscape.

According to JCD's draft constitution, the central committee is formed for a two-year period. So, the tenure of the current committee's tenure was to end on February 28 last.

Under the outgoing committee, a record number of organisational units received new committees in JCD's history. The organisation also played a significant role in various street programmes, including the then anti-government movement and the anti-discrimination student-people movement.

The prospect of a new committee has generated fresh enthusiasm among aspiring leaders. Based on discussions at the higher level of the party and assessments at the grassroots level, several student leaders have emerged as strong contenders for the two top posts --president and general secretary.

Amanullah Aman (not to be confused with the now veteran BNP politician who was also a famed student leader) is now considered one of the strong contenders for the JCD president post because of his vibrant presence on the streets, active role in movements, and acceptability among young activists. He is also reportedly viewed favourably by the party's top leadership.

Besides, dozens of other names are discussed as potential candidates for the next president. They are include JCD Senior Joint General Secretary Shemol Malum, (2007-08 session), Khorshed Alam Sohel, Monjurul Alam Riad, Riyad Rahman, Safi Islam and Ejajul kabir ruel, (2008-09 ), Joint General Secretary Mominul Islam Jisan, Mostafizur Rahman, former Dhaka University JCD General Secretary Ariful Islam Arif, JCD Publicity Secretary Sharif Pradhan Shuvo and Joint General Secretary Faruk Hossain, (2009-10 ).

A large number of leaders are also said to be in the race for general secretary.

They include Dhaka University JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahos, Central JCD Joint General Secretary Tarikul Islam Tarik, Vice-President Anisur Rahman Khandaker Anik and Masum Billah, (2010-11 academic year).

Current committee Joint General Secretary Saleh Mohammad Adnan is also being discussed. Adnan was active in anti-government movements during the Awami League period and played an important role on the streets during the July uprising.

JCD Joint General Secretary Raju Ahmed, Dhaka University JCD General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, Central JCD Literature and Publication Secretary Minhaj Ahmed Prince, Shamim Akhter Shuvo, Gazi Saddam Hossain, Ibrahim Khalil and Tareq Hasan Mamun, from the 2011-12 academic year, are also among those being discussed.

Regarding the farewell of the current JCD committee, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday told reporters that the party's high command was undoubtedly talking to them.

"If something has been finalised, undoubtedly we will inform you through a press release," he said.

Once the new committee is announced, the current committee concludes its tenure, paving the way for the transfer of JCD leadership to a new generation, reports UNB.