Nagorik Oikya is now a political party

Civil society leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna today declared his platform Nagorik Oikya a political party just two years ahead of a scheduled general election.

“Nagorik Oikya was formed in 2012. We started our journey as a civil society platform,” he said at a press conference organised at the Jatiya Press Club.

“From our experience in the last five years, we have decided to form a political party to meet the peoples’ demand of alternative political force,” he said.

In reply to a query, Manna said, “There are many political parties in the country. There are criticisms and there will be. But we want to say we will prove ourselves through our works.”

Terming Bangladesh’s prevailing situation “suffocating”, Manna demanded a participatory election immediately to overcome the situation.

He said they will apply to the Election Commission for registration.

Manna, a former organising secretary of Awami League, formed Nagorik Oikya in 2012. A former DUCSU VP, Manna was very popular and successful as a student leader in the ‘70s.