A new three-party political alliance named ‘Gonotantrik Songskar Jote’ (Democratic Reform Alliance) launched today. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Dec 07, 2025 (BSS)- A new three-party political alliance named ‘Gonotantrik Songskar Jote’ (Democratic Reform Alliance) was launched today with leaders vowing to safeguard the spirit of the July 2024 mass uprising and prevent Bangladesh from returning to old politics.

The alliance brings together the National Citizen Party (NCP), Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) and the Rastro Songskar Andolan, aiming to contest the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election with a pledge to fulfil the aspirations for change that emerged after the July mass uprising.

The announcement was made by NCP Convener Nahid Islam at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in Segunbagicha, where AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, Rastro Songskar Andolan President Hasnat Kaiyum and NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossain were also present.
 
Announcing the alliance, NCP Convener Nahid Islam said it began with three parties and would unite all forces of the July uprising under one symbol, welcoming any group aligned with the uprising’s spirit or committed to state reform. 

NCP Convener Nahid Islam said, “Initially, the alliance has been formed with three parties. It is a political alliance. As the election approaches, the forces of the July uprising will contest under one symbol.”
"Any party aligned with the spirit of the July uprising or interested in state reform is welcome to join the alliance," he added. 

Nahid said the platform was born out of the people’s expectation for qualitative change after the 2024 mass uprising. “The ‘Gonotantrik Songskar Jote’ is not merely an electoral alliance; it is a political alliance formed to uphold national dignity and economic emancipation,” he said.

Nahid said the desire for a “New Bangladesh” created during the uprising had remained largely unfulfilled due to resistance against reforms.

“Various forces directly and indirectly resisted the reform process under the Consensus Commission. We could not fully implement the expectations of the people, and that created frustration,” he said.
Nahid added, “Those of us who sincerely want reform have forged unity today. This is just the beginning of the unity process. It will continue.”

He said the parties aligned with the reform agenda intend to take part in the next general election together. “We will not allow Bangladesh to return to the old political path. After August 5, we had promised Bangladesh would never be the same again,” he added.

Nahid mentioned that they had earlier tried to reach an understanding with the older political parties to carry out state reforms, but that was a "mistake". 

NCP leader also expressed concern over recent incidents of harassment of candidates in Barishal and Lakshmipur, warning that signs of “dominance and intimidation” were already emerging.
“If anyone thinks they can win the next election through muscle power, intimidation or deception in the name of religion, they will be defeated,” he said.

Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju said the alliance reflects an aspiration to break away from terror, chaos and the failures of old-style politics.

“Whenever we speak of new politics, we do not get enough encouragement. We admit we have made mistakes too. But we want to correct those mistakes and start afresh,” he said.

Monju said the July uprising proved that traditional political forces alone could not defeat authoritarianism.

“Old political parties tried everything—movements, struggles, sacrifices—but they could not defeat Sheikh Hasina’s fascism. It was the youth, with new language and new methods of protest, who challenged the regime,” he said.

He described the new alliance as the beginning of a renewed political journey. “We have come together based on the commitment of the July uprising. Today three parties are joining hands, but we call upon all who believe in new politics to unite,” he said.

Rastro Songskar Andolan President Hasnat Kaiyum said Bangladesh’s past movements—from 1952 to 1990—demonstrated that political change was always secured through electoral endorsement after major uprisings.

 “Every major movement in our history was legitimised through an election. The question today is whether the aspirations of the 2024 uprising will survive and be fulfilled,” he said.
He said the alliance represents the collective responsibility to ensure that the sacrifices made during the July uprising are not wasted.

“We cannot afford to fail. Those who believe in reform – activists, workers, the people – all carry the spirit of change. We believe they will stand with us,” Hasnat said.

He said the three organisations were beginning a collective journey but expected more reform-oriented groups to join the platform.

“We want to build a Bangladesh free from authoritarian patterns, a Bangladesh that fulfils the aspirations of 1971 and those of 2024,” he added.

Senior leaders of the three parties, including NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, NCP Chief Organiser for norther region Sarjis Alam, Joint Member Secretary Advocate Abdul Al Amin, Nizam Uddin and Md Alauddin, and Rastro Songskar Andolan leaders Helaluddin, Khalid Hasan and Shahjahan Islam, were also present.