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The new student-led political party -- the National Citizens Party, or NCP -- is set to make its debut by discussing a “new political paradigm”.
All preparations for the party’s inaugural event at Dhaka's Manik Mia Avenue on Friday afternoon have been completed.
A stage has already been set up on the road in front of the South Plaza of the Parliament Building for a “large gathering”.
Last-minute work on the stage, and the road and sidewalks near it has been ongoing since the morning. The construction of various booths is also nearing completion, according to a bdnews24.com report.
Medical teams, washrooms, police booths, and water have been arranged for the event. Separate booths have been arranged for women behind the stage. In addition, special arrangements have been made in front of the stage for VIPs.
Students and the public have started gathering from different districts, including Dhaka, since the morning to witness the “historic moment”. Law enforcers were seen on duty in the area.
About 1,200 people have come in from Khulna for the event on 30 buses. Abu Zar, a resident of Khulna's Terkhada area, said, "We left around 2:00 am and arrived in the morning."
The diploma student, who has been active in the Anti-discrimination Student Movement since the “beginning”, hopes that “something good will happen” in Bangladesh through this new party.
Another student, Mohammad Hedayet, said: "Our hope is that the new party will build a beautiful state. We are optimistic that this is possible."
Raju Ahmed is one of the 135 students who came from Rangpur on three buses.
He said, "Many political parties have formed in our country in the 54 years of our independence. But they have failed to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people. This is the first time that a new political party is going to emerge under the leadership of the youth.”
"I hope they will fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people and work for the people. I hope that this new party will lead to a new Bangladesh."
The road from Aarong to Khamarbari on Mirpur Road is closed for the construction of a stage, with barricades at the Aarong intersection. However, the road from Khamarbari to Aarong is open.
On behalf of the NCP, Mushfiqur Us Salehin said that after noon, only the western entrance of Manik Mia Avenue (facing Aarong) will allow entry to the “reserved area” in front of the stage. Entry to it will be closed by 2:30pm.
The ceremony will be attended by the party's leaders and activists, as well as the families of the martyrs of the July uprising and those injured during the protests. Leaders of various political parties, diplomats and prominent figures are expected to participate.
Jewel Rana, additional deputy commissioner of the Tejgaon Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said that “all kinds of measures” will be taken to ensure security for this gathering of hundreds of thousands of people.
He said, "We have a platoon deployed since the stage was prepared yesterday. Necessary security measures are being taken in coordination with the organisers at all times according to their wishes.”
“Adequate security personnel have been deployed at the venue today. Along with uniformed and armed police personnel, plainclothes officers are also on duty. Traffic police and members of various intelligence agencies are also on duty.”
Jewel said, “All kinds of security measures have been taken by the police to ensure that this new party, forged during the July Uprising, holds its event without any issues.”