NCP launches ‘Jatiyo Nari Shakti’ with Monira Sharmin as convener

Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has launched a new women’s wing, “Jatiya Nari Shakti”, appointing Monira Sharmin as its convener to provide a platform for women’s voices and activism within the party.

The organisation was officially launched on Sunday at Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in Dhaka as an associate body of NCP.

At the event, NCP Convener Nahid Islam announced that Monira Sharmin would serve as convener of Jatiyo Nari Shakti, with Dr Mahmuda Alam Mitu appointed as member secretary and Nusrat Tabassum as chief organiser.

Speaking at the programme, Nahid Islam highlighted the need to reconnect and amplify the voices of women who had played active roles in the July mass uprising but had largely disappeared from the public sphere afterward.

He said, “Women were among the main stakeholders in the July mass uprising. However, after the uprising, one question is being heard most often; where are the brave women of July now?”

He noted that their experience showed the importance of a separate platform for women to speak about their own issues and organise collectively, which led to the launch of Jatiya Nari Shakti.

“Throughout history, every gain in women’s rights has come through movements and struggles. From voting rights to economic and social rights, women have repeatedly fought for their place. Women have also played important roles in national movements,” he added.

Expressing concern, Nahid Islam observed that while women were widely visible on the streets during movements, they were not equally present in politics afterward, due to social and political circumstances.

He also acknowledged that many female students had been forced to leave student politics because of cyberbullying, noting that existing organisations have yet to create a fully safe and supportive space for women.

SH